One Word to Describe Each New Orleans Pelicans Player

E’Twaun Moore: Valuable

The 2011 NBA Draft is known for having one of the best “Mr. Irrelevant” selections in the modern era when the Sacramento Kings selected Isaiah Thomas with the 60th overall pick.

Five picks before that, though, the Boston Celtics selected E’Twaun Moore, who, in his eight NBA seasons has shot just under 40 percent from the NBA line.

In the summer of 2016’s contract boom, Moore signed a four-year, $34 million contract with New Orleans, and all he’s done since is shoot better every single year, with his three-point percentage going from 37 percent in 2017, to 42.5 percent in 2018, and 43.2 percent in 2019.

With increasing production inside of the arc as well, Moore figures to continue to play a valuable role for the Pelicans in 2020.

Jahlil Okafor: Lithe

Every summer, as the length of the day stretches on and the time since a real basketball game has taken place grows with it, NBA pages are filled with articles about guys who are looking better than ever. They’ve dropped weight, they’ve added muscle, they’re in the best shape of their life. It happens.

Still, there is no way to watch highlights of Jahlil Okafor’s offseason work and not be impressed with his weight, his improved perimeter game, even his fluidity moving around a court. Jah knows he was almost out of the league, and he’s worked his tail off (literally!) to make sure it doesn’t happen again.