Is Tony Allen The “It” Factor New Orleans Has Been Missing?

When the Pelicans inked Tony Allen to a one-year $2.3 million deal this offseason, they knew what they were bargaining for; a veteran big who can space the floor and help anchor a defense. Coming into his 14th NBA season the long-time swingman currently has just one thing on his mind…. winning. Now, with New Orleans, Allen seems willing to do whatever it takes for exactly that.

This past August, New Orleans’ starting small forward Solomon Hill went down with a torn hamstring during offseason training in Los Angeles. His time of recovery is projected to run around 6 to 8 months. With this, the Pelicans find themselves without their main wing defender as well as one of their teams most trusty floor spacing scorers (34% 3-point percentage last season).

What will they do?

How will they fill the hole Hill has left in the roster?

Who will step up to the call?

Fear not Pelicans fans, Tony Allen’s totally got this!

With 6 NBA All-Defense selections and a career 3-point percentage of 28%, it’s safe to say Allen is an ideal replacement. Not only do his aforementioned accolades scream “perfect fit” but, like Hill, in an offense with a bevy of mouths to feed Allen is one player you don’t need to worry about in regards to him getting enough scoring opportunities.

Last season, Hill worked perfectly alongside the numerous offensive juggernauts running alongside him, hoisting up a very quiet average of 6.0 field-goal attempts per-game, equating to only 7.0 PPG. Allen for his career possesses a similar stat line to Hill, averaging merely 6.7 FGA per game and  8.2 PPG. Both of these players have made names for themselves seemingly WITHOUT needing the ball in their hands. So that alone is a plus for New Orleans when it comes to Tony Allen.

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Another positive to having a guy like Allen on your roster is the experience and leadership he brings to the franchise. With a championship under his belt along with a plethora of experience playing in this league, Allen fills the role of “seasoned veteran” every team with championship aspirations must possess.

This type of player may not put up 25 points a night or snag 15 rebounds. He might not be the teams best overall player. But he’s the guy who’s willing to do anything and everything asked of him.

Allen, after this past Wednesdays training camp practice, got a chance to speak to the media and answered numerous questions. According to NOLA.com, Allen stated:

"“I’m going to be put in situations or lineups where some days I might start, some days I might play five minutes”“It’s just being ready to do whatever it takes for the team to win ball games–whether its giving advice, passing out a towel or a Gatorade. Just trying to be a piece to the puzzle.”"

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It seems as though Allen already acknowledges his impact to the team may not come through his skill set or athleticism but, rather, the intangibles he brings to the ball club. Tell him to pick up the opposing teams best playmaker and he’ll do it. Ask him to shoot an open 3-pointer and he very well could make it. But if you ask him to sit on the bench and talk through play sets and schemes to his fellow teammates, make no mistake, he’ll excel at that too.

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Some players just have that aspect to them. They can make an impact in ways that aren’t typically perceived as “highly important” to those on the outside looking in. They possess an unexplainable attribute to their persona, an “It” factor if you will. As for the New Orleans Pelicans, they may have attained their very own version of an ‘It’ guy in the form of Tony Allen.