New Orleans Pelicans year in review: Norris Cole

After coming to the New Orleans Pelicans for the playoff push last season via trade, Norris Cole played the best basketball of his career, but his play returned to career norms in the 2015-16 season.

Give the New Orleans Pelicans some credit; the organization realized that Norris Cole was outplaying his skill level last season. In one of their few intelligent contract decisions, the Pelicans only offered Norris Cole a qualifying offer, which is a one-year deal that expires this offseason. Instead of having the guard locked in for the foreseeable future, the team was able to evaluate him during this season and approach the contract negotiations with a clearer picture of Cole.

That picture certainly isn’t pretty. Norris Cole regressed massively in nearly every statistical category, and his inability to command the second unit with any degree of efficiency was on full display. His out of control play often cost the Pelicans possessions, and his confidence in his jump shot, which is completely unwarranted, may have cost the Pelicans a few games.

Last season, Norris Cole experienced a renaissance from behind the three point line, where he shot a career high 37.8 percent, per basketball-reference. This season, that number nose-dived off a cliff to a well below league-average 32.4 percent mark. More condemning than his three point shooting, though, was his shooting from inside the arc. Norris Cole took 35.1 percent of all of his shots between 16 feet and the three point line. That isn’t efficient basketball for superstars, and Norris Cole certainly is not a superstar. The volume chucking (don’t say scoring, that implies he…you know…scores) guard shot a meager 39 percent from that range.

Unfortunately for the piano playing, flat top sporting lead guard, things do not get any prettier when taking a gander at the advanced statistics, either. Cole failed to make a positive impact on either end of the floor, and he posted a -2.4 offensive box plus/minus and a -1.4 defensive box plus/minus for a net -3.7 box plus/minus, per basketball-reference. His true shooting percentage fell by nearly six percentage points year over year, and Norris Cole finished with a well below average player efficiency rating.

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Some of this regression can be attributed to the role he was asked to fill this season as the entire roster crumbled around him, and Cole was relied upon to be the primary scoring option and creator for the offense multiple times throughout the season. He also showed legitimate improvement rebounding the ball; his defensive rebounding percentage increased five points to 13.5 percent, a career high. For stretches, Norris Cole would find his shot and keep the Pelicans in games with his hot hand.

On March 7, the depleted New Orleans Pelicans hosted the Sacramento Kings, and Norris Cole played arguably his best game of the season. His scoring was inefficient, but he did manage to score 23 points. In addition to his scoring contributions, Cole also finished with six assists, seven rebounds and three steals. In games like the one against Sacramento, Cole looked like a legitimate third guard, but, unfortunately, that was the exception and not the norm.

Next: Bryce Dejean-Jones year in review

When push comes to shove, the Pelicans should not look to bring Norris Cole back next season. He is simply too inefficient and selfish (in terms of his playing style; don’t know the man personally) to be counted to lead the second unit. With Tim Frazier and Toney Douglas both outperforming him this season, they should be higher on the list of players the Pelicans attempt to bring back. Sorry, Norris, we’re breaking up. It’s not you, it’s me. (Actually, it’s you.)