New Orleans Pelicans News: The Week of September 12
It’s tough to stay caught up on all of the New Orleans Pelicans news from across the country and across the internet. Never fear, we have you caught up on everything from the week of September 12th.
Lance Stephenson fits in New Orleans
The FanSided NBA general blog took a look at what a Lance Stephenson acquisition might mean for the city of New Orleans compared to the New Orleans Pelicans as a whole. While his style appears redundant on the roster and his idiosyncrasies distracting, Stephenson would be a perfect fit for the culture and flavor of New Orleans.
Add the bonus of this year’s All-Star festivities, and we get Lance acting as a host for the league’s greatest as part of the New Orleans Pelicans. Imagine him in Kevin Hart or Drake’s place; imagine him making friends with noted fan Hannibal Buress or playing in the Celebrity Game himself. The possibilities are endless. As Mike Moeller of Sir Charles in Charge notes, Stephenson has cycled through Charlotte, Indianapolis, and Memphis in his big league career; Lass’sie nach New Orleans kommen!
Related Story: Pelicans well-equipped to handle Lance Stephenson
Tim Frazier interview
It’s exciting to see Frazier so excited and earnest to take his spot as the next man up in the guard rotation. Speaking to John Reid of the Advocate, Frazier appeared ready to go to replace the man he has grown to respect deeply, Jrue Holiday. With Holiday out for the beginning of the season to help his family recover from a variety of maladies, Frazier appears set to replace a large chunk of his minutes.
"”I think we’re headed in the right direction,” Frazier said. ”We added a lot of new pieces this year, but all of those guys have come in eager and willing to learn. You can tell by their character and work ethic. Everybody is comfortable. Everybody has come in, bought into the system.”"
Frazier became the latest Pelicans player to mention the Los Angeles voluntary workouts as important to forming bonds and improving chemistry. It seems the players have taken it upon themselves to grab the reins of the season and change the Pelicans’ fortune.
Voluntary Workouts bring new Pelicans closer
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NBA.com beat writer Jim Eichenhofer provides a detailed breakdown of the oft-referenced Los Angeles workouts. The New Orleans Pelicans together have begun work on improving over last season’s disappointment. Standouts from this insightful story include Quincy Pondexter and Tyreke Evans’ hard work as recruiters for the workouts even as their health prevents them from participating. Evans has taken to calling new addition Solomon Hill “baby Ron Artest”, and that’s quite honestly the best thing.
The piece also includes the best and most powerful quote of the offseason from Q-Pon: “The guys already have a great chemistry. It just comes from guys all being the same type of animal.” No, not a Pelican. A hungry, carnivorous beast, ready to eat its way to a playoff spot.
Stephenson gets $100K guarantee
Per Ananth Panadian via Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical, only $100,000 of Stephenson’s minimum $1.2 million will be guaranteed. This makes the possibility of a training camp cut more palatable, and further proves that this was a no-brainer for the Pelicans. With nearly nothing to lose and high-upside depth to gain, having Stephenson around in October won’t hurt. If the fit works out and Lance can keep his antics in check, the team has a contributing rotation guy on the minimum to help as the team gets healthy.
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Otherwise, the team is only out $100K if it chooses to keep guys like Alonzo Gee and Alexis Ajinca over Lance. It is another shrewd veteran pickup for a GM in Dell Demps who has made a career out of these sorts of finds. The hope is that Stephenson returns to what he once was, and the Pels get a bargain on a productive player for one year. The fear is very little: one-tenth of the minimum?