New Orleans Pelicans Season Outlook: Dante Cunningham
Even as one of the longest-tenured players on the New Orleans Pelicans, Dante Cunningham faces an uphill battle to retain the role he worked hard to carve out on the team.
Dante Cunningham has continued to reinvent himself for this New Orleans Pelicans team. Signed three seasons ago, Cunningham has been able carve out the role of swiss army knife for the Pelicans. Asked to play a multitude of different positions, Cunningham has proven to be a reliable option at the 3, the 4 and on rare occasions the 5.
Entering this season, Cunningham faces stiff competition for rotation minutes, as the Pelicans paid big money to Solomon Hill, who figures to be the primary option at small forward. The two players are similar in their ability to play both the 3 and the 4.
It would be foolish to count out the resilient Dante Cunningham though, as he has proven throughout his tenure with the Pelicans that he can find a role. Numerous times, Cunningham has been able to step up when the team has needed him. Whether he’s been asked to defend the opposing team’s best perimeter player or to knock down corner threes, Cunningham has been a reliable jack-of-all-trades.
His very modest per game numbers of six points and three rebounds are not really eye catching to the average fan. Even his advanced numbers (per Basketball-Reference), an 8.6 PER (player efficiency rating) and a barely positive .4 VORP (value over replacement player), don’t insinuate that Cunningham is a good basketball player.
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When evaluating Cunningham though, the raw numbers do not really capture the impact he brings. Cunningham played in 80 games last year (starting 46 of them), and for a team as injury riddled as the Pelicans, being available is a skill in itself. Having a player who can spot start off the bench at a multitude of positions allows for flexibility in lineups, while adding much needed versatility to the bench.
Cunningham has been getting steady minutes during the preseason. However, playing time may be hard to come by during the regular season. Competing with Solomon Hill and Terrance Jones for minutes, Cunningham will have to continue to improve upon his career-high 31 percent shooting from three; it is what could set him apart from the new additions. Last season was the first in which Cunningham took threes on a regular basis. That leaves room for optimism that he can improve upon those numbers with another offseason of work.
That Cunningham was able to develop a quasi-respectable three point shot is a testament to his worth ethic, and goes toward a larger point about Cunningham– he has always shown the ability to adapt to whatever role the coach is asking. With the Pelicans placing such a large emphasis on defense this season, Cunningham should have a more defined role. His workmanlike playing style should fit right into the focus of the team.
Considering that Cunningham has proven over his career to be most valuable and effective playing power forward, his largest competition for minutes will come from new Pelicans signee Terrance Jones. Dante Cunningham rightfully has the upper hand in the competition as of the preseason. Cunningham’s effort and system familiarity make it his job to lose. It will be fun battle to monitor over the remainder of preseason.
Another interesting thing to look out for in regards to Dante Cunningham will be the lineups he plays in. Already a versatile player in his own right, New Orleans made it a priority to bring in more players like Cunningham this summer. With so many guys who can play multiple positions, fans could be in store for some wacky lineups. It would not be shocking at all if Gentry were to trot out a second unit front court of Terrance Jones and Dante Cunningham. Even wackier, Gentry experimented with Dante Cunningham playing the 5 spot against Houston Rockets. Now, these chaos lineups would not be something to expect every game, but they are examples of the way that Dante Cunningham can fit in amongst the new additions.
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Cunningham has already shown an ability to adapt by adding the ability to shoot from three into his game. If this added layer to his game continues to improve, it can make him a far more valuable player. As of now he is just a player who’s merely decent at everything. For a tenth man, Cunningham is perfect and can fill in nicely when called upon. New Orleans’ failure to stay healthy has consistently forced Dante Cunningham into a larger role. Now, he’ll be able to avoid being over-extended and play to his strengths.