New Orleans Pelicans: CBS says Nesmith, Stewart are Best Fits

The CBS article also identified a defensive center as a primary need for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Many Pelican fans are drunk on Jaxson Hayes highlights and don’t want to admit that the skinny 19-year-old is not ready for full-time center duties against full-grown men, but he’s not.

With Derrick Favors likely to leave in free agency, the Pelicans will need to replace his rim protection and defense in the paint,  as he is currently their best shot-blocker.

CBS named Isaiah Stewart from Washington as a possible replacement.

Here’s what they had to say:

"“…a player like Washington’s Isaiah Stewart makes a ton of sense as a fit for what they need to win now. He’s a built-out 6-foot-9, 250 pound center who ranked third in the Pac-12 as a freshman in blocks and rebounds per game, and has the frame and skill set to play a big-bodied complement to rising second-year center Hayes. ”"

Stewart doesn’t have great height at 6-foot-9, but he weighs 250 lbs. and is ready to bang with NBA centers.

He was top-three in the Pac-10 in rebounds and blocks as a freshman and should come into the NBA ready to defend the paint, something the Pelicans are terrible at doing currently.

We like some of the wing defenders more than Stewart, as he has no shot and cannot step away from the bucket, but if the New Orleans Pelicans want a cheap center option, he could be their guy.

It would be wise for the Pelicans to be thrifty at center, as most teams are no longer handing out big contracts to guys who can’t shoot the 3-pointer.

If they could lock up two young, cheap centers with different skill sets, it would be one way for them to pay their Big Three of Zion, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, while still leaving plenty of cap space for wings and shooters.

This draft is going to be an interesting one for the New Orleans Pelicans, as they can try to plug a need or swing for the fences on talent.

Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!