New Orleans Pelicans: Three reasons to watch

With the 2016-17 NBA season on the horizon, USA TODAY Sports highlights the top three reasons to watch all 30 teams. We also recap any significant moves made in the offseason and project how your favorite team will finish.

Watchability ranking: 27th

What’s different? Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon weren’t re-signed. The biggest addition to the Pelicans came via the draft, when Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield fell to them at the No. 6 pick. Other signings included Solomon Hill, who had been a backup wing for the Indiana Pacers, and E’Twaun Moore, a guard who the Chicago Bulls were particularly high on.

Davis at full strength: When healthy, Anthony Davis is arguably one of the five best players in the NBA. He says he’s as strong as he’s ever been after a March knee procedure. There also was a question about whether he’d have surgery on a partially torn labrum in his shoulder, but doctors opted against it. At this point, the Pelicans have to hope he’s ready to shoulder the brunt of the offense again.

A Stephenson revival? Ever wonder why Lance Stephenson gets chance after chance to play in the NBA? It’s because he’s too talented not to take a flyer on. The Pelicans are the latest team to give him an opportunity, signing him after his productive stint with the Memphis Grizzlies to end last season. Stephenson, along with Langston Galloway, will fill an important role while Jrue Holiday is out dealing with the health of his wife. Making matters more complicated in the backcourt, Tyreke Evans will likely be out until December after a blood clot was discovered in his calf after knee surgery.

Buddy Buckets: How well will Hield’s confidence and range translate to the NBA? How will he cope without the ball in his hands? Can he develop other areas of his game outside of the 46% three-point shooting he boasted last year at Oklahoma? Pelicans coaches are curious, too, and given the excess of injuries at the guard position, Hield should have ample opportunity to showcase his ability as a rookie.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

(Statistics from 2015-16 season)

• Langston Galloway (with New York) - Points: 7.6, assists: 2.5, rebounds: 3.5, steals: 0.9, field goal percentage: 39.3%
• E'Twaun Moore (with Chicago) - Points: 7.5, rebounds: 2.3, assists: 1.7, steals: 0.6, field goal percentage: 48.1%
• Solomon Hill (with Indiana) - Points: 4.2, rebounds: 2.8, assists: 1.0, steals: 0.6, field goal percentage: 44.7%
• Anthony Davis - Points: 24.3, rebounds: 10.3, assists: 1.9, blocks: 2.0, field goal percentage: 49.3%
• Omer Asik - Points: 4.0, rebounds: 6.1, assists: 0.4, blocks: 0.3, field goal percentage: 53.3%

How good can they be? If Davis stays healthy, Evans and Holiday return to the lineup by December and Hield averages double-digit points per game, their win total should see a slight increase.

USA TODAY’s projection: 34-48

Follow Michael Singer on Twitter @MSinger