In part two of our series we’ll take a look at two more free agents and how they might fit in with the New Orleans Pelicans.
For a look at our New Orleans Pelicans free agents Part 1, click here.
With the owners and players preparing for a June return but fearing the worst, free agent season may be on us sooner than expected.
It’s far too early to know the full effects of the novel coronavirus on the NBA or the world in general, but there will certainly be ripple effects felt in every aspect of NBA life.
This will include the salary cap, which will undoubtedly be affected if the season has to be shortened or canceled completely.
With so much up in the air, it is impossible to know how much cap space each team will have, or when free agency will even occur.
That’s why we’re using some rules when previewing free agents for the New Orleans Pelicans. Here’s a recap:
- Unrestricted free agents only. There are too many moving parts to know how any of this will play out, but restricted free agency is always tricky.
- I’ll try to choose one free agent from the “premium” crop and one from a lower tier.
- Money is not an object at this point. The New Orleans Pelicans will likely be capped out if they extend Brandon Ingram and don’t make a trade, but for these purposes, money will be more of an abstract concept.
In the second installment of our series, we’ll take a look at two players who are on the opposite ends of the NBA career spectrum.
One is a gritty veteran who is a proven winner and another is a young guy with potential who still hasn’t found his way in the league.
Without further delay, here is the second installment of potential free agents for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Strengths: Potentially elite shooting at a bargain
Weaknesses: Shooting consistency, rebounding, rim protection
Key Statistics: 32.1 percent career 3-point shooter
How he fits with the Pelicans:
When Lonzo Ball came to the New Orleans Pelicans he had one of the ugliest shots in the league.
It was awkward, seemed to come from the wrong side and had a hitch in it like a broken down horse. Enter Fred Vinson.
The Pelicans’ shooting coach took Ball under his wing and the results have been nothing short of miraculous. Ball’s shot went from janky to smooth and he is now a 38.3 percent 3-point shooter, up from 32.9 percent the year before.
Vinson was able to get similar results from Ingram, who raised his 3-point percentage to 38.7, up from 33 percent in the previous season.
Mario Hezonja is another player who could use a visit to the shot doctor.
Drafted number five overall in 2015, Hezonja entered the league as one of the best offensive prospects. At 6-foot-8, Hezonja has the ideal size for a modern, 3-point shooting wing.
Unlike Ball, his shot was already honed and Hezonja was expected to come into the NBA as one of the top shooters in the draft.
The problem is that when Hezonja got to the NBA he forgot how to shoot.
In his short career, Hezonja has shot just 32.1 percent from 3-point range, which was supposed to be his primary skill in the NBA.
Hezonja showed promise in his first season, shooting 34.9 percent from long-range, but it has gotten worse nearly every year, including two seasons of shooting below 30 percent from behind the arc.
It seems like Hezonja’s career might be a bust. Enter Fred Vinson.
At only 25 years old, Hezonja has plenty of time to figure it out and could eventually turn things around in the right situation.
The New Orleans Pelicans have Zion Williamson, Ingram, Jrue Holiday and Ball, guys who will draw double teams and are gifted passers.
If Hezonja can get his shot on track, he would undoubtedly benefit from being on a team with so many offensive weapons.
He’s a potential “low risk, high reward” player for the New Orleans Pelicans, as he would likely fit into their budget, even after they max Ingram.
The Pelicans probably won’t have much cap space, so they will need to find a few end of the bench guys who might contribute.
Hezonja could be the floor spreading, high volume 3-point shooter they are looking for off their bench. He will likely be a cheap option, but one that could pay off for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Strengths: Rebounding, rim protection, toughness, 3-point shooting, playoff experience
Weaknesses: Playmaking, turnovers
Key Statistics: 39.8 percent 3-point shooter in 2019-20
How he fits with the Pelicans:
Derrick Favors will be a free agent in the offseason, and if the New Orleans Pelicans decide to let him walk, they might find his replacement in power forward Serge Ibaka.
Ibaka provides all of the rebounding, rim protection, veteran leadership and toughness as Favors, but has two things Favors does not: 3-point shooting and playoff experience.
Ibaka is having one of his best offensive seasons, scoring a career-high 16 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting from behind the arc.
Ibaka could stretch the floor in ways that Favors cannot.
Ibaka also has a long history of playoff experience and success, as he has been to wars with the Oklahoma City Thunder and won a title with the Toronto Raptors.
No matter what you think of Ibaka’s rough and somewhat dirty style of play, he is the kind of tough, veteran winner that could teach the young New Orleans Pelicans how to make the leap when they make the playoffs.
Even though Ibaka has seemingly been in the league forever, he is still just 30 years old and has plenty left in the tank.
His career-best numbers have likely priced him out of the New Orleans Pelicans range unless they were to make a trade, but Ibaka would fit with the Pelicans from a basketball perspective.
Every team needs a gritty inside presence to set the tone defensively, grab rebounds and protect the rim.
Ibaka can do all of those things, plus add elite long-range shooting for his position. He’d fit in well in small ball lineups with Zion and could handle the opponent’s toughest interior assignment.
The league is in unprecedented times, but we will continue to provide great New Orleans Pelicans’ coverage during the hiatus. Stay safe out there!
For part 1 of our series, click here.
For more information about COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.