New Orleans Pelicans: One Thing for Each Player to Improve During Hiatus

With the season on the brink of cancellation, the offseason could be a long one. Here is one thing for each player on the New Orleans Pelicans to work on during the break.

The New Orleans Pelicans and the rest of the NBA are preparing for what could be the longest offseason in NBA history.

On Monday night, commissioner Adam Silver said in an interview with TNT that the NBA would not even talk about restarting until at least May.

With the coronavirus outbreak expected to last well into the summer, it’s possible that some sort of season can be salvaged, but cancellation remains an option.

The season was suspended indefinitely on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.

That could potentially mean a seven month offseason. Yikes.

Aside from basketball fans going crazy without their favorite sport to watch for over half a year, it also leaves players with a lot of free time.

Players on the New Orleans Pelicans have done different things to pass the days. Lonzo Ball recently named his All-Time starting five in an interview with Pelicans.com.

Josh Hart has been talking trash and playing video games against other players and fans.

But eventually it will be back to basketball.

With so much free time to spare, players on the New Orleans Pelicans will have a chance to work on different aspects of their individual games.

Even though they can’t practice as a team, players can still work out, drill fundamentals and improve different skills.

Those of us who are not pro athletes probably got through the video games pretty quickly and have turned to everything from gardening to bread-making to fill the time.

I have no idea if Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have a strong bread game, but I know they can hoop.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t things they can improve.

Here is one thing for each New Orleans Pelicans’ player to work on during the suspension of play.

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.

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.

The Rotation Players

The New Orleans Pelicans’ bench rotation was up and down all season. At times they carried the team, but at others, could not knock down a shot.

The bench 3-point shooting was exposed after Redick went down and will have to get better if the Pelicans want to compete in the Western Conference.

Here is one thing for each rotation player to improve.

Frank Jackson, Point Guard

The New Orleans Pelicans will have a tough decision on Frank Jackson. He is a free agent this offseason and has shown enough to entice another team to make him an offer.

Jackson has looked great at times. He can get to the rim and finish and has shown that he is not afraid of the big moment.

He had a couple of nice games just before the hiatus and was making the Pelicans’ decision even tougher.

Like most of the bench, Jackson must improve his 3-point shooting. He shot just 32.5 percent from long-range this season.

With his ability to beat people off the dribble, teams have to sag off Jackson, giving him open looks from the perimeter. If he can start knocking those down more consistently, he’ll be a tough cover with his speed.

Jackson took a step backwards this season and it’s very possible the Pelicans will let him walk in free agency, but an improved 3-point shot would make him a valuable backup point guard.

E’Twaun Moore, Shooting Guard

E’Twaun Moore is another guy who may have played his final game for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Moore was having a good season off the bench, though his 3-point average had dipped to 37.5 percent, down from 43.2 percent the year before.

Moore often set the tone defensively for the Pelicans’ bench and was a calming veteran presence, especially after the loss of Redick to injury.

It wasn’t just Uncle E’s 3-point percentage that went down, he was shooting just 42.4 percent from the field overall, a low-point in his career as a Pelican.

Moore needs to improve his shooting around the rim. Moore’s offensive rebounding percentage was up this year, but he was often missing the put backs.

Moore can shoot the rock but needs to be more consistent, especially around the rim.

Nicolo Melli, Power Forward

Nicolo Melli was having a good season off the New Orleans Pelicans’ bench. He was shooting 36.1 percent on 3-point shots and averaging 6.8 points in just over 17 minutes a game.

Melli had definitely hit a wall prior to the hiatus, as he shot combined 7 of 34 from 3-point range for a paltry 20.5 percent after going 6 for 7 against the Warriors for his biggest game of the year.

Melli needs to improve his consistency from behind the arc, as the Pelicans need him to stretch the floor to give Zion, Ingram and Ball room to operate.

Melli seemed to wear down as the season went on and it affected his shot. He needs to get into better shape in the offeason to avoid this breakdown.

Tired legs equal short shots, so Melli needs to be in better condition to improve his consistency.

Josh Hart, Shooting Guard

Josh Hart was enjoying his best season as a professional, averaging 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

His defensive versatility and ability to grab boards allowed the New Orleans Pelicans to go small at times, which is what they want to do.

Hart is the most important player on the Pelicans’ bench, as he is not only productive, but on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the NBA.

But like Melli, Hart was inconsistent down the stretch.

He had games like this on his birthday:

But before his birthday party he had shot just 7 of 35 from long-range in the previous seven games for a pedestrian 20 percent.

Hart’s 3-point average had dipped to 34.2 percent, but he needs to be closer to the 39.6 mark he had in his rookie season with the Lakers.

Hart is not a big concern, as he does plenty of valuable things for the New Orleans Pelicans, but like most young players, he just needs more consistency.

J.J. Redick, Shooting Guard

Redick’s value to the New Orleans Pelicans became blatantly obvious after he was out with an injury.

The bench production dropped dramatically and the Pelicans really missed his veteran leadership.

This is a young team and Redick often kept them focused, especially defensively, where the Pelicans often have lapses.

Redick is 35 and still one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA, so I won’t waste breath telling a veteran what to improve.

Redick just needs to be healthy, as he will still be making over $13 million next season and needs to produce off the Pelicans’ bench.

Redick is using his downtime to launch a bookclub, which is a great idea while he heals.

The Starting Five

The New Orleans Pelicans have one of the most exciting starting lineups in the NBA. They are loaded with playmakers and talent, but each of them have some things to work on during the hiatus.

Derrick Favors, Center

Derrick Favors is what he is.

He will never be a volume scorer and his job is to protect the paint, set screens and rebound the ball.

Favors was doing all of those things relatively well, averaging 9.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and one block per game.

Favors did his job when he was on the floor. The problem is that he often wasn’t.

Favors regularly got himself into foul trouble early in the game and had to hit the bench.

Considering he is a part of most of the Pelicans’ best five-man lineups, this is a big deal.

Favors is another guy whose return is unlikely but if he does come back a Pelican, he needs to reduce the silly fouls so he can stay on the floor.

Jrue Holiday, Shooting Guard

Though Jrue Holiday was arguably the MVP of the 2019-20 New Orleans Pelicans, his salary makes his future with the team murky.

Holiday was near or above all of his career averages and still plays elite defense for the guard position.

It would be nitpicking to ask him to improve, but if there is one area he can, it is his free throw shooting.

Holiday’s free throw attempts were down to 3.1 a game from four the season prior.

Holiday has the quickness and strength to get into the lane at will and we’d like to see him there more often, especially when he gets run with the second unit.

Holiday should be taking over games when he plays with the second team and this starts with getting to the charity stripe more frequently and to hit them when he does.

Holiday was shooting a career-low 70 percent from the line, which is not good for a guy who has his hands on the ball so much.

Holiday can be a closer for the Pelicans, but only if he takes and makes more free throws.

Brandon Ingram, Small Forward

Brandon Ingram was having by far his best season as a pro, made his first All-Star game and is one of the frontrunners for Most Improved Player of the season.

Ingram improved just about every part of his game, increasing his scoring, rebounding, assists and 3-point shooting.

There isn’t a whole lot for Ingram to do other than what he is already doing, but it would be nice to see him improve his weak side defense.

Ingram has the size and athleticism to be an effective weak side shotblocker and the Pelicans need him to be one, especially if Favors is on the bench.

The Pelicans lack defenders, especially on the wing, so if there is one aspect of Ingram’s game that could improve, it’s his shot blocking.

He currently averages just 0.7 blocks per game. If he can improve to a block or more a game, it will help shore up the Pelicans defense.

He doesn’t need to be an elite on-the-ball defender, as he is too important to the offense, but if Ingram can block a few more shots from the weak side, it will help the Pelicans immensely.

Lonzo Ball, Point Guard

Lonzo Ball is one of the most exciting young players in the NBA.

He is possibly the league’s best passer, or at least most spectacular passer, often hitting Zion for alley-oops from the other side of the court.

Ball’s propensity for the spectacular is what makes him great, but it also holds him back at times.

Lonzo was averaging a career-high 3.1 turnovers this season, which is something he has to improve moving forward.

Some of these turnovers are not his fault, as his teammates are sometimes not ready for passes that he puts through a tiny window.

Others are just the result of him handling the ball so much.

But others are because Lonzo sometimes tries to be spectacular, when a regular pass will do.

He also seems to lose focus at least once or twice a game, throwing the ball to no one or making a no-look pass for no reason.

The New Orleans Pelicans can certainly live with a couple of turnovers from Ball, but he needs to cut out the unnecessary ones that come from too much showboating or a lack of focus.

Zion Williamson, Power Forward

We already outlined what Zion Williamson needs to improve, though it seems like a fool’s errand to ask a 19-year-old who is averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds to improve.

Zion has been everything he was advertised to be, but does have a couple of areas where he could and will be better.

Zion was a bit out of shape after missing most of the early season with a knee injury and we expect him to come back from this break ready to play big minutes.

His lack of conditioning was evident down the stretch when he was asked to carry the team at times and had a few sloppy turnovers that looked like the result of fatigue.

With a full offseason and training camp, Zion should come back in the best condition of his life, ready to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to the playoffs.

We’re not going to pick on Zion anymore because he’s been a revelation and could still take the Rookie of the Year award if the season ever resumes.

The New Orleans Pelicans are a young and ascending team with a whole lot of talent and reasons to be excited.

They could make the leap into the top-five in the Western Conference if each player uses this hiatus to improve their individual skills.

We at Pelican Debrief are committed to bringing you coverage of the New Orleans Pelicans during the suspension of play.

Thanks for your continued support and stay safe out there!