In this weekly recap, we’ll take a look back at seven possible free agents for the New Orleans Pelicans and how they might fit with the team.
If you missed the first two of our weekly New Orleans Pelicans’ free agent series, you can find the recaps here and here.
With the NBA season hanging in the balance, it is impossible to know what will happen with free agency, the salary cap and the draft.
With a cancellation looking like a distinct possibility, teams are scrambling to put together scouting reports on draft picks and potential free agents for next season.
What is the strangest season on record is going to get even weirder in the offseason, where reductions to the salary cap, a weak draft and plenty of uncertainty might put many players on the move.
It’s tough to know what is going to happen to the New Orleans Pelicans, so for this free agent series we followed some rules.
Here are a loose set of guidelines that we’ll be following for our free agent series:
- 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. This won’t always be the case, but we’ll try to mix it up.
- 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.
If the New Orleans Pelicans do extend Ingram, they won’t have much cap space left barring a trade, but a lot can happen between now and then.
This week we looked at seven players who each could bring something to the New Orleans Pelicans.
We have two intriguing shooting guards, two projects on the wing, two veterans who could bring the Pelicans a title and a brotherly reunion in the Big Easy.
Let’s take a look back at seven players who are possible fits on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Strengths: veteran leadership, defensive versatility, bench stability
Weaknesses: age, long distance shooting
Key Statistics: 35 percent career 3-point shooter
How he fits with the Pelicans:
With the possibility that veteran E’Twaun Moore has played his final game with the New Orleans Pelicans, the team will look to replace his leadership on the bench.
They won’t have much money to spend on this luxury, so they need a guy who can provide some toughness, defensive versatility and occasional shooting for a good price.
Kent Bazemore might be a guy who fits this description.
Bazemore is not particularly great at any one thing, but he has a nice all-around game and his defensive versatility would bring stability to the New Orleans’ Pelicans second unit.
Bazemore has already had his big payday, as he made $19.2 million in this last year of his contract, so at age 30, he might look to go to a winner as opposed to whoever offers the most money.
With Bazemore unlikely to sniff those kind of numbers again, he just might be in the range of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Bazemore is not huge at 6-foot-4 but has shown an ability to play small forward as well as shooting guard, which would give the Pelicans some defensive versatility off their bench.
He is just a 35 percent career 3-point shooter for his career, but has raised his average to 38.6 percent in his short time with the Kings.
Bazemore is certainly not going to move the needle that much for the New Orleans Pelicans, but he is a solid bench player who always knows his role and fills it.
Strengths: Elite 3-point shooting, size
Weaknesses: Possible price tag, on-the-ball defense
Key Statistics: Career 42.3 percent 3-point shooter
How he fits with the Pelicans:
For most of his career, Joe Harris has been one of the best values in the NBA.
He made just $7.67 million in his final year with the Brooklyn Nets, where he has provided elite 3-point shooting, the most valuable commodity in the NBA.
Harris is a career 42.3 percent 3-point shooter, but has had years as high as 47.4 percent, which led the NBA.
Harris is still just 28, so it is likely he is going to get paid, which means the New Orleans Pelicans would have to clear some cap space to sign him.
If they could find that space, Harris is the type of elite shooter that the Pelicans would like to put around lane-hogger Zion Williamson.
Having shooters like J.J. Redick, Ingram and potentially Harris would make it impossible for teams to double Zion without paying a heavy price.
Harris would fit in perfectly with the second unit, which has struggled at times with its long-range shooting, especially after Redick went down with an injury.
Harris is tall enough at 6-foot-6 to play small forward or two guard, though he is not a great individual defender.
Harris has increased his scoring average every year he’s been in the league, which would likely continue with more minutes and open looks.
The New Orleans Pelicans need another piece, preferably a wing or a big who can stretch the floor for Zion.
Harris fits the mold of what the Pelicans need most, but the only question is how the financial end of things would work out.
Strengths: Defensive versatility, potentially elite defense
Weaknesses: Shooting, ball handling
Key Statistics: Career 29.1 percent 3-point shooter
How he fits with the Pelicans:
When Stanley Johnson was drafted number eight overall by the Detroit Pistons, he looked like the type of wing every team wants.
He has the size at 6-foot-6, 245 lbs. to guard either forward position and the quickness to defend shooting guards.
His offensive game was raw, particularly his shot, but the Pistons hoped that it would come around as Johnson had the potential to be an elite defender.
He flashed this ability in his rookie season, when the Detroit Pistons made the playoffs and faced off against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
Johnson was brash, cocky even, saying,
"“I’m definitely in his head, that’s for sure,” Johnson said after a 107-90, Game 2 loss to the Cavs. “That’s for sure.”"
He wasn’t and LeBron torched the Pistons in a sweep.
Johnson was just 19 at the time and looked to have a bright future as a 3-and-D wing for the Detroit Pistons.
It all went downhill from there, as Johnson’s offensive game never developed and his defense wasn’t elite enough to offset his lack of offensive production.
Johnson has shot just 37.2 percent from the field for his career, including only 29.1 percent from behind the arc.
Johnson has bounced around the league since, spending some time in the G-League, and even spent 18 games with the New Orleans Pelicans last season before signing with Toronto.
The New Orleans Pelicans are desperate for a big wing that can defend, so Johnson could be a worthy risk on a minimum deal.
He is still just 23 years old and Pelicans’ shooting coach Fred Vinson has had success improving the shots of Lonzo Ball and Ingram.
The New Orleans Pelicans have a ton of scoring, so they wouldn’t need Johnson to be good offensively, just not terrible.
Johnson is still young enough to realize his potential as an elite defender and if he ever puts it all together, will be a valuable 3-and-D wing for someone.
The New Orleans Pelicans may end up taking a flyer on a guy like Johnson if they are looking for cheap potential.
Strengths: Defensive versatility, size
Weaknesses: Shooting
Key Statistics: Career 29.8 percent 3-point shooter
How he fits with the Pelicans:
Josh Jackson is another wing who fits the profile of the 3-and-D defender that the New Orleans Pelicans covet on the wing.
Like Johnson, Jackson has plus size for the position at 6-foot-8 and the quickness to defend several positions in the NBA.
Also like Johnson, Jackson would need a visit to shot-doctor Vinson, as he has shot just 41.7 percent from the field for his career, including just 29.8 percent from 3-point range.
The New Orleans Pelicans want to play with pace and chuck long-range shots, so it seems like Jackson might not be a fit.
But they also need players who can defend, and Jackson has the tools to be a plus defender in the NBA.
He hasn’t gotten much of a chance in Memphis, as he’s been buried by other talented young players since being traded by the Suns, but he might be the type of guy who just needs a fresh start and some confidence.
Jackson is still only 22, so there is time for him to develop, but it probably won’t be with the Grizzlies, who already have a nice core of young talent and will likely be looking to supplement it with veterans in free agency.
Jackson had decent number in limited play for the Grizzlies, scoring 10.4 a game in just 19.8 minutes.
His age, size and potential may price him of the Pelicans’ range, but if they can get him on a minimum deal, it would be well worth the risk.
Big wings who can defend are hard to come by and won’t come cheap.
If the New Orleans Pelicans want to bolster their wing defense, they may have to take a risk on a young project like Johnson or Jackson.
Strengths: Playmaking, ball handling, 3-point shooting, veteran leadership
Weaknesses: Possible salary, on-the-ball defense
Key Statistics: Age 33, averages 16.1 points, 5.1 assists in 28.4 minutes per game
How he fits with the Pelicans:
Prying Goran Dragic away from the Heat will probably be a tall task, especially if he is asked to be backup to Lonzo Ball.
Dragic has quietly had a stellar career for Miami and is one of the big reasons they are a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Even at age 33, Dragic is still getting it done, running the break and the pick-and-roll and shooting near a career-best from long-range
Dragic is one of those crafty veterans who uses his high basketball I.Q. to make up for a step lost to age.
He’d be the perfect mentor to Lonzo, who also doesn’t possess blazing speed, but uses plus ballhandling and elite passing to get teammates open looks.
Dragic would also be a huge upgrade at backup point guard, as the New Orleans Pelicans currently have just Frank Jackson in reserves and it’s possible another team will steal him as an unrestricted free agent.
The Pelicans have plenty of young players and need a few veterans like Dragic who have been through wars and have playoff experience.
Dragic made nearly $20 million last year, but is unlikely to get another huge deal.
If he felt that his best chance for minutes and a title was with the New Orleans Pelicans, they might be able to convince him to join the team on a friendly deal.
Dragic is one of those veterans who is instrumental to a championship run and could help get the young Pelicans there ahead of schedule.
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.
The lack of future cap, coupled with the likely departure of guards E’Twaun Moore, Frank Jackson and Kenrich Williams means the New Orleans Pelicans are going to need players to fill out the back-end of their bench.
The New Orleans Pelicans will be looking for backup guards, a backup center and possibly a wing who can come off the bench.
Justin Holiday could be a cheap option for a third guard who can still produce.
The brother of Jrue has been on seven teams in nine years, so he is no stranger to coming off the bench in a new city.
Justin Holiday would not necessarily be a game-changer for the New Orleans Pelicans, but he does a lot of the things they need out of a backup guard and will do it on a reasonable contract.
Holiday is primarily a shooting guard, but can handle and defend both guard positions, which would give the Pelicans some defensive versatility in the second unit.
The New Orleans Pelicans want to play with pace and shoot 3-pointers and Justin Holiday can do both.
Holiday shot a career-high 42.4 percent from long-range for the Indiana Pacers this season on 4.4 attempts per game.
Maybe most importantly, Holiday put up those numbers on a value contract of $4.76 million, and at age 30, might be in line for a veteran’s minimum moving forward.
If he’d take the minimum to play with his brother, Justin Holiday would be a good backup option for the New Orleans Pelicans.
He can shoot the 3-pointer, run the second unit occasionally and has plus-size at 6-foot-6, which would take some defensive pressure off Redick
If the price is right, a Holiday brothers reunion makes sense for the New Orleans Pelicans, who need cheap, veteran production next season.
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Thanks for your continued support in these tough times. Stay safe out there!