Editing New Orleans Pelicans (section)

====2017–2019: end of the Anthony Davis era====
On February 20, 2017, the Pelicans acquired [[DeMarcus Cousins]] in a trade with the [[Sacramento Kings]] when they traded Buddy Hield, [[Tyreke Evans]], [[Langston Galloway]], a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2017 second-round pick in exchange for Cousins and [[Omri Casspi]].

On February 1, 2018, the Pelicans acquired [[Nikola Mirotić]] in a trade with the [[Chicago Bulls]]. Though the trade went through, a previous trade for Mirotić to the Pelicans was called off when New Orleans did not want to pay for Mirotić's 2019 team option contract that Mirotić had signed with the Bulls during the off-season in 2017. The Pelicans received Mirotić and a 2018 second-round pick for veterans [[Ömer Aşık]], [[Jameer Nelson]], and [[Tony Allen (basketball)|Tony Allen]]. Mirotić demanded a trade when former teammate [[Bobby Portis]] punched Mirotić in the face during an off-season practice. At the time of the trade, Mirotić was the Bulls' leading scorer, and DeMarcus Cousins was injured. Mirotić played well for the Pelicans after the trade.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wojnarowski |first1=Adrian |title=Pelicans acquire Nikola Mirotic for three players, first-round pick |url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22287175/new-orleans-pelicans-acquire-nikola-mirotic-chicago-bulls |website=ESPN.com |access-date=August 31, 2018 |date=February 1, 2018 |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711121536/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22287175/new-orleans-pelicans-acquire-nikola-mirotic-chicago-bulls |url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 15, 2018, [[Tom Benson]] died from complications of the flu. Ownership of the Pelicans and the Saints were transferred to Benson's widow, [[Gayle Benson]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Benson's will names Gayle Benson as sole beneficiary, leaves estranged family out|url=http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2018/03/tom_benson_will.html|access-date=March 22, 2018|work=The Times-Picayune|date=March 17, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320131827/http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2018/03/tom_benson_will.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Pelicans clinched a playoff spot on April 9, 2018,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Meagher|first1=Sean|title=NBA playoff race: Pelicans clinch with win vs Clippers|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/nba/index.ssf/2018/04/nba_playoff_race_new_orleans_p.html|website=OregonLive.com|access-date=April 24, 2018|date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425032144/http://www.oregonlive.com/nba/index.ssf/2018/04/nba_playoff_race_new_orleans_p.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and finished with a 48–34 record. In the first round of the playoffs, they swept the [[2017–18 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]] in four games<ref>{{cite web|last1=Amick|first1=Sam|title=No. 6 seed Pelicans make NBA playoff history with first-round sweep of Trail Blazers|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/04/21/no-6-seed-pelicans-nba-playoff-history-first-round-sweep-trail-blazers/539641002/|website=USA TODAY|access-date=April 24, 2018|date=April 21, 2018|archive-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423210435/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/04/21/no-6-seed-pelicans-nba-playoff-history-first-round-sweep-trail-blazers/539641002/|url-status=live}}</ref> before losing to the [[2018 NBA Finals|eventual champion]] [[2017–18 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State Warriors]] four games to one.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Meagher|first1=Sean|title=Golden State Warriors eliminate New Orleans Pelicans, advance to Western Conference finals|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/nba/index.ssf/2018/05/golden_state_warriors_vs_new_o_3.html|website=OregonLive.com|access-date=May 10, 2018|date=May 8, 2018|archive-date=May 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511081225/http://www.oregonlive.com/nba/index.ssf/2018/05/golden_state_warriors_vs_new_o_3.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2019, Davis demanded a trade from the franchise, and was fined for publicly announcing the request.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maloney |first1=Jack |title=Pelicans' Anthony Davis fined $50,000 for making trade demands public |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/pelicans-anthony-davis-fined-50000-for-making-trade-demands-public/ |website=ESPN.com |access-date=February 6, 2019 |date=January 29, 2019 |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020358/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/pelicans-anthony-davis-fined-50000-for-making-trade-demands-public/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On May 14, 2019, the Pelicans received the first overall pick at the [[NBA draft lottery]] of the [[2019 NBA draft]], despite having a six percent chance to win it.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 NBA Draft Lottery Results |url=https://www.nba.com/draft/2019/draft-order |website=NBA.com |access-date=May 15, 2019 |date=May 14, 2019 |archive-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515075648/https://www.nba.com/draft/2019/draft-order |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26748564|title=Winning Williamson: Pelicans land No. 1 pick|date=May 14, 2019|work=ESPN.com|access-date=May 15, 2019|archive-date=May 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515051120/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26748564|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 15, 2019, the Pelicans agreed to trade Davis to the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. In return, the Lakers agreed to send [[Lonzo Ball]], [[Brandon Ingram]], [[Josh Hart]] and three first-round picks, including the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, to the Pelicans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pelicans Agree to Trade Anthony Davis to the Lakers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/15/sports/lakers-trade-anthony-davis.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 15, 2019|date=June 15, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723065034/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/15/sports/lakers-trade-anthony-davis.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Pelicans later agreed to trade draft rights of the fourth overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft to the [[Atlanta Hawks]], receiving the draft rights to the eighth, 17th and 35th picks in the 2019 NBA draft.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report: Hawks trade up to get No. 4 pick; Pelicans get 8th, 17th and 35th picks|url=https://www.nba.com/article/2019/06/20/report-hawks-pelicans-trade-no-4-pick|website=NBA.com|access-date=July 15, 2019|date=June 20, 2019|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921104424/https://www.nba.com/article/2019/06/20/report-hawks-pelicans-trade-no-4-pick|url-status=live}}</ref> The three-way trade was completed on July 6, 2019, marking the end of an era for the Pelicans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Deals becoming real as NBA moratorium period ends|url=https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/06/deals-become-real-nba-moratorium-period-ends|website=NBA.com|access-date=July 15, 2019|date=July 6, 2019|archive-date=July 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715183151/https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/06/deals-become-real-nba-moratorium-period-ends|url-status=live}}</ref>