New Orleans Pelicans roundtable: Free agency
By Nathan Heck
3. It’s opening night and Alvin Gentry is feeling under the weather. You’re our new coach! How would you replace Ryan Anderson’s minutes?
Preston: A few of these minutes will have to go to Cheick Diallo. He is not ready to meaningfully contribute, but somewhere in the realm of 8-10 minutes per game will give the young man the experience he needs to become a successful NBA player sooner, rather than later.
But ultimately, I’m hoping these minutes go to a free agent. Dante Cunningham and Luke Babbit are hard working, durable players who have given their hearts and their service to the Pelicans’ franchise. With that being said, they are not heavy rotational players on a playoff fringe franchise. Cunningham can be an adequate defender, and has a high motor, but he is prone to turnovers, and essentially invisible on the offensive end. Likewise Babbitt is inept defensively, serving only as a promising three point shooter, but lacking the athleticism to create his own shot. These guys would be best suited filling roles 10-15 on this bench, not 6-9.
Brendon: Assuming the team replaces Dante Cunningham as the starting small forward through free agency or health, he ought to get a bulk of the backup four minutes, if the team can put enough playmakers next to him in bench lineups. I like him in the corner with Reke running the pick and roll for 15-20 minutes a game, providing switchability and muscle on defense. As far as possible acquisitions, I think it’s maybe time to give up on one-dimensional players for this team. I really like Darrell Arthur on a cheaper deal, and I wouldn’t be afraid to commit to him for three years. If he would come over on something like a 3 year, $30 million dollar deal, I would love that for both sides. He could handle some of the punishment down low next to AD, provide versatility on defense, knock down some jumpers to at least offer some spacing, and provide smart minutes to a team in desperate need for those.
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Rick: This one is tricky. The new rookie in Cheick Diallo has not had a ton of experience at the NBA level, so while he can take on a few of those minutes, he can’t take on the majority. The rest would have to go to the most flexible player on the roster in Dante Cunningham. It’s an odd fit, but he’s already been transformed into a stretch-four defender anyway with Gentry’s emphasis on his long range shooting. It’s not a pretty fit, but it’s the best fit there.
Rory: While everyone (including myself) is excited about Buddy Hield or concerned about the Pelicans’ wing positions, there is no small amount of low key stress over frontcourt depth. Asik may well bounce back from his awful 2015-16 campaign, and Davis will continue to be Davis, but Diallo is a few years away from meaningful minutes and a backup frontcourt of Cunningham and Ajencia doesn’t exactly fill anyone with excitement.
As Diallo develops and we weather Asik’s mammoth contract, frontcourt depth will likely come through a series of short term deals. I like Brendon’s Darrell Arthur idea. I’d also like to see a more effective version of Kendrick Perkins; someone with a wealth of experience who could be a mentor and positive locker room influence while still being effective in short rotations on the court. Someone like David West. Seriously. West would immediately elevate the locker room, give us a solid scoring punch (albeit in the paint and midrange) off the bench, and will excite the fanbase. Two years/$17 million and we retire his jersey when he’s done.
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