With the New Orleans Pelicans Offseason officially beginning, the staff at Pelican Debrief answers five questions on the upcoming decisions to be made.
1) The New Orleans Pelicans have had a tough year. But let’s start with something positive. What is the best surprise of this Pels season?
Rick Stone (@RickStoneNBA):
The best surprise for the New Orleans Pelicans has to be Jordan Crawford. Crawford came on this team as one of the many 10-day signings. He was the only one to make a significant impact on the roster. Crawford put up 14.1 points per game in 19 games, fresh out of the D-League.
His professionalism and work ethic was superb. Though the biggest positive from him was the fearlessness to go for it. While many other Pelicans seemed reserved in their play, Crawford put out a performance with 100% on every night. That’s similar to E’Twaun Moore, but that was more of an expectation. Crawford surprised all Pels game, going from a fringe NBA player, to a key piece going into next year.
Preston Ellis (@PrestonEllis):
The play of E’Twaun Moore and of Jordan Crawford.
Moore has more than justified his four year, $34 million dollar contract, with his ball handling (.6 TOV per 36), defense, three point shooting (37 percent) and his ability to drift floaters and pull up from mid-range. Daniel Couglin of PippenAintEasy.com expressed his disappointment in losing him, saying that they missed his bench production and shot creation.
Jordan Crawford has been exactly what the Pelicans needed and expected from Buddy Hield and Langston Galloway. A shooter with no conscience. In 13 games in the month of March, he averaged 14 points in 22 minutes on 45 percent from three point range.
Wilton Jackson (@wiltonreports):
The biggest surprise this season for the Pelicans was, by far, the production from Jordan Crawford. He provided an instant spark of offense for the Pelicans, when they so desperately needed it following the trade of Hield and Galloway. As he continues to adjust to Gentry’s offense along with New Orleans getting few more pieces on offense, Crawford’s game will continue to grow but more importantly, stay consistent.
Tyler Pearson (@_Kamarr_):
The best surprise of this season is the health status of the New Orleans Pelicans’ players. Anthony Davis played the longest season of his four-year tenure in the NBA (75 games) and likewise with Jrue Holiday, since arriving via trade in 2013 (67 games). Having these guys play without any setback was definitely a plus for the team moving forward in the offseason.