Additions: Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, Ian Clark, Frank Jackson, Darius Miller
Subtractions: Tim Frazier, Donatas Motiejunas, Quincy Pondexter, Quinn Cook
2016-17 Vitals
34-48, 4th in Southwest Division, 10th in Western Conference
104.3 PPG (18th)/106.4 OPP PPG (17th)
105.2 Offensive Rating (25th)/107.4 Defensive Rating (9th)
Team Leaders
Scoring: Anthony Davis, 28.0 PPG
Rebounding: DeMarcus Cousins, 12.4 RPG*
Assists: Jrue Holiday, 7.3 APG
Steals: Jrue Holiday, 1.5 SPG
Blocks: Anthony Davis, 2.2 BPG
Honors
All-NBA First Team: Anthony Davis
All-Defensive Second Team: Anthony Davis
Roster Thoughts
On the bright side, AD and Boogie may be the most skilled bigman duo the NBA has ever seen. The front office was able to upgrade several positions in the off-season with guys like Rondo, Allen and Clark replacing fringe NBA players like Hollis Thompson, Reggie Williams, and Alex Toupane. Rondo and Allen will provide some veteran leadership while guys like Ian Clark and Darius Miller should give them some much-needed floor spacing. On the not so bright and more honest side, is that this team is still extremely shallow and flawed.
Prediction
There are several teams in the West that should really dominate the competition this season. Golden State, Oklahoma City, Houston, San Antonio and the Timberwolves should be locks for the playoffs. The would leave the final two spots for teams like Denver, Utah, Portland, Memphis and New Orleans. With the depth issue, and several teams in the West only getting better, the Pel's playoff hopes are all going to fall on their "Big 2". I predict that they're going to scratch and claw their way into one of those last two spots, but the odds are stacked against them.