The Pelicans’ uncertain future depends upon the 2018-19 performance of their unit, and of its leader, the Brow.

New Orleans Pelicans fans have every right to be fearful heading into another NBA regular season pressure cooker.

After all, It’s hard to find NBA related news anywhere these days without it relating to the incoming ‘Pre-Agency” of Pelicans’ superstar, Anthony Davis.

And there is palpable precedent in New Orleans for the flight-risk superstar. The franchises’ undisputed GOAT, Chris Paul, flew the coup, not once, but twice in the summer of 2011 after switching agents to Leon Rose of CAA.

Then, 25-year-old Chris Paul had just finished his sixth season with 46 wins, alongside running mate and 28-year-old, David West.

Now, 25-year-old Davis has switched agents to Rich Paul heading into his seventh season, having won 48 games alongside 28-year-old Jrue Holiday.

Davis is continuing the narrative by appearing on “The Jump” with Rachel Nichols expressing his desire to win.

But the Pelicans can capitalize on the recent success that catapulted them to a dominant first-round sweep over the third-seeded Portland Trailblazers and earn back Anthony Davis’ favor in 2018-19.

Everything changed in the 2017-18 season based on one measly little regular season win. Pick your favorite. It resulted in a much needed sixth-place finish and a date with the then stumbling Portland Trailblazers who had lost seven of their previous 12 matchups leading to the first round clash that inevitably went to the Pelicans.

Now, with Anthony Davis first second-round appearance, the Pelicans’ expectations have only heightened in a season with as much as riding on it as any other.

Pelicans have another reason to give their faith to the franchises’ prospects at resigning the Brow. Anthony Davis becomes eligible for the NBA’s richest contract next summer, due to the parameters of the ‘Rose rule,’ and could earn upwards of five years, 236 million dollars should he seek a future with the city that drafted him.

But what will it take to earn that commitment? A duplicate finish and an improved regular season performance are indeed in sight. But that may not enough.

The Pelicans return First-Team defenders in Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday. They lost veteran leader Rajon Rondo and newest Warrior, DeMarcus Cousins, but they added youth in their place in Jahlil Okafor (22), Julius Randle (23), and Elfrid Payton (24). The Pelicans also have great hope for 2017 31st overall pick and former Blue Devil, Frank Jackson (20), and a healthy Solomon Hill. Darius Miller’s shot looks improved based on his 53% three-point stroke in preseason on 32 shots.

A frenetic pace and high volume scoring is a certainty. Head Coach Alvin Gentry, helped pilot the 2017-18 squad to 108 possessions per game, a league high. The Pelicans finished fourth overall in field efficiency, implying another string of high scoring totals for the upcoming season. Through five games of the 2018-19 preseason, the Pelicans’ have sprinted out to an even crazier, eye-popping 115 possessions per game.

The Pelicans are healthy, they are hungry, and they are downright cocky.

But doubt resists. Without vocal leader Rajon Rondo, the Pelicans slumbered their way through the NBA Preseason to the league’s only winless mark at 0-5. Worse even still, the Pels allowed 125 points per game to some of the game’s most forgettable offensive units in Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Miami, and the Toronto Raptors’ bench.

Enes Kanter and the Knicks dominated the Pelicans to the tune of 17 offensive rebounds. Josh Richardson got whatever he wanted, and the Heat put on a dunk contest in the American Airlines Arena.

The Pelicans looked sloppy, disjointed, disinterested, and unconcerned, shooting but 42% from the field, 31% from three, 65% from the free throw line, and an uncharacteristic 1.25 Assist to Turnover Ratio, down from their second-placed finish in 2017-18 (1.8).

The Pelicans’ bench, so too, looks unrefined, inexperienced, and staggeringly overwhelmed. Frank Jackson continues his rookie season growing pains while displaying elite-level burst and an aggressive attacking mentality. Ian Clark’s bench level scoring precipitously tallied off to 31% and 13% shooting through five games.

The point guard position is a considerable concern, with no evidence Elfrid Payton, the aforementioned Jackson and Clark can fill the void in the absence of Rajon Rondo.  I chronicled ways the Pelicans can replace his production and leadership here. The Pelicans will certainly explore the market following cuts like the ones the Clippers must make to get down to the mandated 15-man rosters.  Should players like Patrick Beverley, Milos Teodosic or Tyrone Wallace become available, the Pelicans will pounce.

The wing position is another concern.  Nikola Mirotic will be demanded spot minutes alongside Julius Randle and Anthony Davis.  While he graded as an A in Off-Ball Movement and Perimeter Shooting, his lack of foot speed on the perimeter contributed to his C- grade in that arena.  Solomon Hill continues his inept offensive play but has also seemed to lost the lateral foot speed that made him a deadly defensive stopper in 2016-17. E’Twaun Moore has been the Pelicans answer in the past, posting a B grade or better in every major offensive category, while carrying C- defensive grades both on the perimeter and in the post.  It’s simply too easy for bigger players to take advantage of the 6’4 Moore.

So, should Pelicans’ fans be concerned with a performance, eerily representative of losses in the 2017-18 regular season to the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Atlanta Hawks?

Not as long as they have Anthony Davis.

In addition to the 28 points, 11 rebounds and league-leading 2.6 blocks per game, a top-three finish in both MVP and DPOY, as well as finishing fourth in Win Shares (13.4), and back to back Player of the Month Awards to close the season (February and March/April), Anthony Davis has firmly placed a bulls-eye on the rest of the Association.

Joined by his resurgent Defensive Ace, Jrue Holiday, the two aim to rush the gates of the NBA regular season.

After beginning each of the previous three seasons at 1-3, 0-8, and 0-6, respectively, the Pelicans finally have a roster full of health, something that has escaped them for the entirety of Anthony Davis’ career.

The New Orleans Pelicans will face every obstacle the Western Conference has to throw at them, from the Warriors to the MVP in Houston, to Westbrook, the Jazz, the Nuggets, the Spurs, and even the King himself.

But the Pelicans have the taste of success, they have youth, they have health, and maybe most importantly, nearly every key contributor outside of Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore are in contract years. The Pelicans are in the perfect position to again take the NBA by surprise, and take Anthony Davis to the next level of his career. And if the trade deadline in 2017 and 2018 tell us anything, it’s that General Manager Dell Demps’ doesn’t finish adding talent until the fat lady sings.

Season Outlook: 50 wins, second round finish