Pelica Debrief
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New Orleans Pelicans: Best and Worst Case Scenarios

By Christopher Dodson

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 9: Solomon Hill #44 of the New Orleans Pelicans talks with DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors during the game on April 9, 2019 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 9: Solomon Hill #44 of the New Orleans Pelicans talks with DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors during the game on April 9, 2019 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Pelicans
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The New Orleans Pelicans will have a solid third group pushing the second unit for minutes.

The New Orleans Pelicans have perhaps the deepest team in franchise history to start the Zion Williamson era. However, there are still only so many minutes to spread around to the roster. Rookies Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes might have to spend some time in the G-League just to get on-court development time in an actual game.

What they do with the limited time they get to start the season will determine their fate. The Pelicans playoff expectations leave little room for failed experiments with fringe players. Each could prove effective contributors in a dozen minutes per game. Likewise a trade or trip to Erie could be in their futures as well.

To be sure, Alexander-Walker and Hayes will not be traded in the next three years. Darius Miller, Frank Jackson, Kenrich Williams could be gone in the next three months though.

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Miller has been with the Pelicans for years now. He spent some time toiling in non-NBA arenas for a few seasons, but he back to try and prove himself once again. Miller can match his career-best averages but will have to do so with less court time.

Unless he can beat out Nicolo Melli and others for shooters minutes, Miller will not get his usual 20-24 minutes per game. If Miller does push his way into more rotations, the Pelicans will pick up his second-year option. Guaranteed money is good money, no matter where in the NBA you cash those checks.

Jackson is getting one last chance to prove himself to the New Orleans Pelicans. The best he can do is show he belongs in the league. The worst he can do is get injured again, leaving more doubt over his ability than anything.

Williams just wants to get on the court. A season worth of DNP-CD stat lines would demoralize anyone, much less a player with the ‘Kenny Hustle’ nickname. His best-case situation might be dominating the G-League until a team in the bottom half of the standings gives him a chance.

Call it the Christian Wood route to a fringe contender.  Pelicans fans hate to lose a hard warking talent, but love to see them get their chance to shine.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes might have to watch and learn most nights. They may make trips to Erie. However, they will get some court time after the top ten players get comfortable. Both rookies will have training camp opportunities to prove they deserve minutes in the season opener.

Next. New Orleans Pelicans Schedule: Month By Month Breakdown. dark

For the team, just making the playoffs would be deemed a resounding success. The worst-case scenario is the team fails to find any chemistry and sinks to below 35 wins.

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