Two EuroLeague Players The New Orleans Pelicans Should Be Keeping Tabs On

In this article we will be looking at a couple of overseas players that could help the Pelicans next season.

Every other year, Pelicans GM Dell Demps will sign one or two players from the international ranks in order to fill needed spots in the rotation. These players tend to come over relatively cheap, while being capable of taking on large roles. Last season, for example, Darius Miller left Brose Bamburg of Germany in order to shore up a wing rotation that had been lacking in size and perimeter shooting.

The injury of Solomon Hill thrust Miller into a bigger role than expected, but the wing delivered and ended up being one of many pleasant surprises in a successful season. This was a solid, but familiar move from Demps. The GM has been plucking rotational players from Europe for years. It should be no less fruitful as a cap-strapped Pelicans team looks for more help this offseason.

Specifically, here are two guys NOLA should pay close attention to:

Nicolo Melli, Fenerbahce Dogus

Melli, a 6-8 forward from Italy, has been steadily improving as a player since joining Euroleague competition in 2010. The Italian made his biggest leap in 2015 when he went from averaging 5.2 PPG and shooting 35% from three to 9.2 PPG and 45% from three. He also managed to bring down 6.5 boards a game.

Since 2015, Melli has stayed around 10.0 PPG and about 42% from three, which isn’t too shabby considering he’s played with Euroleague studs Brad Wanamaker (who just signed a deal with the Celtics), Daniel Theis (also with the Celtics), and our own Darius Miller. It should be noted that Melli has had his suitors in the NBA. Last season David Pick reported that the Hawks offered him a contract, but he declined to try and win a title with Fenerbahce.

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Melli, reunited with his Bamburg teammate Brad Wanamaker, did actually take Fenerbahce to the title game, but fell short to Luka Doncic and Real Madrid. Maybe Melli will now take his talents to the NBA given that he lost Wanamaker, accomplished part of his goal by reaching the championship, and the fact that he’s already 27-years-old. New Orleans is in major need of wing depth. Melli should be a player on their radar.

Will Clyburn, CSKA Moscow

Will Clyburn was someone who bounced around several schools in the NCAA before finding his niche professionally in Europe. The 28-year-old started his pro career playing in Germany and Israel before making the jump to Euroleague with Darussafaka Dogus (playing under David Blatt) and then with CSKA Moscow this past season.

Clyburn averaged over 11.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG as a starter with Final Four squad CSKA. There are two big reasons why he could carve out a nice role for himself with the Pelicans. First, he has an excellent frame, standing 6-7 and weighing 210 lbs. Second, According to Panos Katsiroumpas of eurohoops.net, Clyburn is excellent in transition and a solid defender.

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The one thing I do worry about, though, is that he struggles with his shot. Clyburn is a career 31% shooter from three, but he did improve to 38% this past season. If he could get that up to around 40-42% he could be a serviceable rotation player for any NBA team, including the Pelicans. However, that is a big ‘IF’.

All figures and data were collected from sports-reference.com and euroleague.net