A star-in-the-making to build around? Got it. Scorers who can shoot from anywhere on the floor? Yep, that too. Players who are out to either make a statement that they belong in a starting rotation or that they belong on a Western Conference playoff team...or both? Most definitely.

Despite finishing 14 games under .500 and last in the Southwest Division in the 2013-2014 regular season, the New Orleans Pelicans comprise a young, talented roster filled with players motivated to prove something, whether it's fulfilling the worth of a large contract, showing they can start and play valuable minutes, or just simply that they belong in the league. Combine that nucleus of self-motivated players, then place a rising star in the middle of that core, and you have all the ingredients necessary to disrupt last year's Western Conference playoff picture.

Let's get some Pelicans expertise from someone who knows the team makeup and potential better than we might. Michael McNamara of TrueHoop Network's Bourbon Street Shots is kind enough to provide us his unique insight into what we can look forward to concerning the New Orleans Pelicans this coming year



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