New Orleans Pelicans Roundtable: Offseason Questions

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Jun 22, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry walks off with general manager Dell Demps (right) during a press conference at the New Orleans Pelicans Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

5) Crystal Ball Time! What player do the Pelicans bring in to fill out the roster next season?

Rick Stone:

New Orleans will likely keep Jrue Holiday.

He’s comfort. New Orleans as a city loves him and what he does for the city. Other than Steph Curry and Kyle Lowry, he’s the best point guard on the market. Jrue will get plenty of high money offers. However, staying on the Pelicans seems like the safe option for him.

After that, Dell Demps will do what he always does:

Go find the diamonds in the rough.

He’s never been the guy to give out random contracts to big names. He’s going to look deep for sleeper candidate free agents. Two names that come to mind are Anthony Morrow and Tony Snell. Both are marksman, who provide a scoring punch in various roles for their team. Demps could give one of those guys a nice pay day, to swing by New Orleans and complete the roster.

Preston Ellis:

The Pelicans will never let Jrue walk, but should they, as I’ve recommended:

New Orleans could trade Alexis Ajinca and Quincy Pondexter to the Charlotte Hornets for shooting guard Jeremy Lamb, freeing up $2.5 million in cap space. They now stand at $20 million, once Dante Cunningham opts out.

Shelvin Mack (two years, $8 million, player option), Will Barton (trade exception), Taj Gibson (three years $27 million, team option), and Jodie Meeks (three years $15 million, team option) round out the squad.

That should leave the Pelicans with about two million remaining to add another veteran (Terrence Jones?).

Starters: Mack, Barton, Hill, Davis, Cousins. Bench: Moore, Crawford, Meeks, Jones, Gibson. Frazier, Lamb, Asik, Cook, and Diallo make up the rest of the squad.

Wilton Jackson:

I am not fully sold on which player to bring in yet, as much as knowing what players should really be gone, now that the season is over. Ajinca and Poindexter should be let go. Honestly, if the Pelicans could get Reggie Jackson, maybe a player to caliber of Taj Gibson, along with some others who could provide consistent numbers, it would help them out tremendously.

Tyler Pearson:

I envision the Pelicans strictly focusing on point guards and combo guards this offseason. Guys like Ty Lawson, Ian Clark and Sergio Rodriguez to shore up the backcourt. Also, Randy Foye and Ben McLemore stick out.

Next: Grades from New Orleans Pelicans Season Ending Win Against the Portland Trail-Blazers

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