Five Questions following the New Orleans Pelicans’ Free Agency: Debrief Discussions
By Gandolf’s beard, you’ve transformed into Alvin Gentry! Give me your opening day starting five, first unit off the bench, and finishing five.
Preston:
Starting Five:
PG Jrue, SG Moore, SF Pondexter, PF Anthony Davis, C Omer Asik
I give Moore the start over Buddy because I don’t want him wading too far out in the waters of the NBA just yet.
Quincy Pondexter gets the start over Hill just do to familiarity with the system.
The next possibility would be starting Terrence Jones at the four and Davis at the five. Though, like last year, I see Omer Asik starting the game, then being pulled at the six minute mark in the 1st.
Bench:
PG Galloway, SG Hield, SF Hill, PF Diallo, C Jones
Langston Galloway and Hield will split ball handling duties and will work off ball just as frequently. Hill will be the versatile everyman crashing the boards and flying around on defense, Jones will provide the muscle, and Diallo will provide the shot blocking.
Ajinca, Cunnigham and Gee are my odd men out. The Pels’ have given each of them a hard look, and their apex seems to be as bottom rotation players.
Final Five:
PG Jrue, SG Galloway, SF Pondexter, PF Hill, C AD
This group will have plenty of versatility on defense, four shooters capable of spacing the floor, and the energy and movement to close games with plenty of offense. The NBA is shifting away from plodding centers like Andrew Bogut at the end of games, allowing AD to shift to the five.
To view more possibilites, try my previous column!
More from Pelicans News
- How will the Pelicans round out rotation without Trey Murphy III
- Why you can’t blame Brandon Ingram for all Team USA’s failures
- New Orleans Pelicans avoid potential disaster with latest injury reports
- 3 New Orleans Pelicans whose role will increase next season
- Pelicans getting the fans involved with their upcoming festival
Rory:
Starting Five:
PG Jrue, SG Hield, SF Hill, PF Davis, C Asik
Should Hield come off the bench as the primary option, I fear he will continue to struggle. But if Hield is running alongside Jrue Holiday and AD, then he is at best the third option. Solid defense from both Jrue and Hill will help as he develops on that end of the ball. With AD on the floor, Hield will have to make defenses respect him while never drawing a double team.
I am also slotting Hill as a starter primarily due to questions about Pondexter’s health.
Bench:
PG Galloway, SG Moore, SF Pondexter, PF Cunningham, C Jones
Here is where the Galloway and Moore signings will truly pay off. They will add veteran leadership and a scoring punch to a defensively strong second unit. Further, if Pondexter is slow coming back, this position allows him the most wiggle room as he regains his legs. Dante Cunningham has proven himself more than capable coming off the bench, and this will also be where Jones can make the most impact early on as he rebuilds his confidence.
Finishing Five:
PG Jrue, SG Moore/Hield, SF Pondexter, PF Hill, C Davis
I’m torn on Hield vs. Moore for the SG slot, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a Jrue/Hield/Moore/Hill/Davis rotation should Pondexter’s recovery fall behind schedule. But it’s hard to argue that Asik will be the five in a crunch time five, especially as the league attempts to emulate Golden State’s Lineup of Death.
Rick: Let’s try to do Gandalf’s beard proud.
Starting Five: PG Jrue SG Hield SF Hill PF Davis C Asik
Omer Asik was horrible last year and if he proves early on that he can’t fit with the rest of the core, he should be yanked of his starting role for Ajinca or a smaller unit.
Hill fits the best as a stretch three that forces teams to stay out on him. You don’t pay a man that much money to play him off the bench. Still, Pondexter’s long range ability would make him worthy of this spot as well if needed.
As far as Buddy goes, development here is key. Alvin Gentry’s goal should be to have him comfortable with playing on this unit long term. Playing him off the bench solves none of that and gets him in the uncomfortable position seen at summer league.
Bench: PG Frazier SG Moore SF Pondexter PF Jones C Ajinca
Tim Frazier is the team’s only other true point, so his role in that spot is key. While Galloway can play that role, it’s not his strength. He and E’Twaun Moore should be splitting assignments at the backup two with good pace. Pondexter can still space the floor and could also have traded minutes with Galloway or Moore’s ability to play SF on a small unit.
As far as the bigs are concerned, Terrence Jones is the only backup four on the team. Still, he can be stretch for a small-ball five if he focuses on rebounding and defense. For now, it might be easier for the team to keep Alexis Ajinca out there for familiarity with the team’s gameplan off the bench.
Finishing: PG Jrue SG Moore SF Pondexter PF Hill C Davis
This team brings all the weapons out. Jrue and AD easily fill the floor, Hill can show his ability to space the floor alongside Pondexter and Moore has the shooting and driving ability to attack the already spread out defense. This also brings the team’s possible best defensive unit, though Galloway may have an edge in that over Quincy. Still, it’s a balanced unit that have five players who can hold their own against their assignment on both ends.
Drew: Not a Lord of the Rings fan, but I’ll do my best here.
Starting Five: PG Jrue Holiday, SG E’Twaun Moore*, SF Solomon Hill, PF Anthony Davis, C Omer Asik
Asik is the shakiest of the bunch and I believe his play through the first five games of the year will be a huge deciding factor in whether or not he remains the starter.
E’Twaun Moore will be the starter at the beginning of the season and likely through the better part of the first 15 games while Buddy Hield gets more acclimated to the NBA, hence the asterisk. * =
Pondexter has experience in this system and has started in the past, but I think Hill’s talent level should be enough to supplant him as the starter on opening day.
Bench: PG Tim Frazier, SG Buddy Hield*, SF, Quincy Pondexter, PF Terrence Jones, C Alexis Ajinca
Frazier brings a tenacious defensive presence to this lineup, but I think that Langston Galloway will also rotate in with this group to get his fair share of minutes.
The Jones signing will prove useful in more ways than one. He’ll be a strong option at power forward off the bench, but he also has the size and physicality to play center if Gentry decides to go small. Initially though, Ajinca will get his chance at the five spot with Jones alongside him as PF.
Finishing: PG Holiday, SG Galloway, SF Pondexter, PF Hill, C Davis
This group brings a lot of energy and balance to the table, something that’s necessary in the finishing group. Holiday and Davis are the two best players on the team and will obviously be on the court if healthy, and the addition of Galloway at shooting guard will help out defensively.
Next: Long term affect of the Pels' 2016 Free Agency