New Orleans Pelicans: One Thing for Each Player to Improve During Hiatus
The Deep Bench
For various reasons, these guys didn’t get much run with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019-20. Here are some things they can do to get on the floor.
Darius Miller, Small Forward
In July 2019 Darius Miller signed a two-year free agent contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. On August 29th it was announced that he had undergone season-ending surgery and would be out indefinitely.
This is too bad, as Miller is a career 38.2 percent 3-point shooter and the Pelicans could have used that on the wing.
Miller obviously just needs to spend his time getting healthy, as he still has a partially guaranteed year left with the Pelicans and it will be hard to trade him coming off a serious injury.
Miller could be an unexpected boost to the Pelicans’ bench if he can come back 100 percent.
Kenrich Williams, Small Forward
Kenrich Williams had finally returned from an early season back injury just in time for the NBA to suspend the season.
Kenny Hustle is another guy who the New Orleans Pelicans could have used this year, as they lacked defenders on the wing, especially in the second unit.
If Williams wants to see the floor next season, he has to improve his 3-point shooting.
The Pelicans want to play with lightning pace and shoot from long-range. Wings who cannot do these things will likely end up on other teams.
Williams is unlikely to return unless it is on a minimum deal, but if he does, he has to shoot better than 26 percent from 3-point range or he has no place on this team.
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Jahlil Okafor, Center
Jahlil Okafor is another player who likely won’t be returning to the New Orleans Pelicans. Okafor showed some life last season as part of the Pels’ rotation, but was logging more DNP’s this year than minutes.
With post play going extinct in the NBA, Okafor will need to develop even a mid-range game to find another home in the NBA.
Okafor averaged more than a block a game in his first two seasons, but his rim protection has worsened each year.
Okafor will have to show he can protect the rim and hit an occasional jumper if he wants to find his way back into an NBA rotation.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Shooting Guard
After having a breakout pre-season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker couldn’t find his way off the New Orleans Pelicans’ bench.
He was eventually sent to the G-League in what had to be a disappointing turn for the young shooting guard.
He is signed through 2022-23, so is obviously a part of the New Orleans Pelicans’ future if he doesn’t end up traded.
Alexander-Walker needs to improve his consistency, especially when it comes to shooting.
He shot just 33.9 percent from the field in 41 games for the Pelicans this season and just 34.2 percent from long-range.
Shooting guards who can’t shoot won’t last long in the NBA, so NAW must improve his shooting consistency, especially from long-range.
The New Orleans Pelicans’ bench struggled mightily after J.J. Redick was injured, and will need more consistency out of guys like Alexander-Walker.
Jaxson Hayes, Center
With Derrick Favors departure looking likely, many are ready to turn the keys to the paint over to 19-year-old Jaxson Hayes.
It’s time to slow down on this.
Hayes has provided some highlight-reel dunks in his short tenure, but has yet to show the kind of defensive intensity or consistency he will need to be a full-time player in the NBA.
In fact, we recently proposed a trade that had Hayes at the heart of it.
Hayes can run the floor and dunk, so he seemingly fits with what the New Orleans Pelicans are trying to do, which is play with pace.
But currently, that is all that Hayes can do, so he will need to improve several aspects of his game if he wants to play big minutes for the Pelicans.
Hayes needs to develop a shot, but that likely won’t happen anytime soon, so we’ll leave that one.
What he really needs to do is improve his defense.
Hayes is often lost on defense, out of position, slow to rotate and gives up way too many buckets at the rim.
He will occasionally swat one into the tenth row (not a smart play by the way) but then get beat for a dunk on the very next play.
Like all teenagers in the NBA, Hayes has a lot to learn. The New Orleans Pelicans do not need him to be an offensive force, but he must improve his defensive instincts and awareness.