Two Veteran Free Agents that Could Get the New Orleans Pelicans to a Title

Strengths: Shooting, stretching the floor

Weaknesses: Age, injuries, potential salary, speed

Key Statistics: Shooting 42% from 3-point range in last two season

How he fits with the Pelicans:

If the New Orleans Pelicans could do it again, they might have just drafted Marc Gasol in 2007.

Then again, there are a lot of teams that would like to do that draft again.

Gasol went 48th overall that year, but ended up evolving into the modern stretch-five that most teams now covet.

Gasol has certainly lost a step at age 35, especially defensively, but he is exactly the type of center the New Orleans Pelicans need, as he can draw defenders away from the hoop and clear the lane for Zion Williamson.

Gasol isn’t the defender he once was, but still has the smarts to be part of a solid team defense, as he is in Toronto.

He is also the exact type of veteran leader the New Orleans Pelicans need.

Ask the Raptors, who got Gasol out of Memphis via trade and rode his versatility to a title.

He could do the same for the young Pelicans, as he not only fits as a veteran leader, but also from a basketball perspective.

No, he cannot run the floor like he used to, but he has become adept at trailing behind the break and pulling up for 3-pointers, which he hits at over 40 percent.

There aren’t many bigs in the NBA who can shoot like Gasol and he’d be a nice complement next to Zion or with the second unit.

There is a chance Gasol will simply retire or take a much smaller deal to remain in Toronto, but if the New Orleans Pelicans can convince him to lace them up for one more run, he might be a good fit.

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