New Orleans Pelicans face a crisis of their own making as the NBA trade deadline looms. A brutal collapse against the Charlotte Hornets—blowing a 22-point lead and scoring just 31 second-half points—amplifies tough questions about Jordan Poole’s $30 million contract and the value of the team's underperforming role players like Saddiq Bey and Jose Alvarado. Is the Pelicans’ front office ready to make hard choices, or will they repeat past mistakes?

Jake Madison breaks down the missteps in roster construction, the challenge of moving off negative contracts, and the pitfalls of falling in love with role players who aren’t moving the needle. As fan apathy threatens to swallow the franchise, Jake Madison argues that standing pat at the deadline would send the wrong message. Can New Orleans make a decisive move and restore hope, or is a patient rebuild the only way forward?

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