Free Agent Encore: Four Players We Like for the New Orleans Pelicans

Jae Crowder- SF/PF

2019-20 Stats – 10.4 Points, 6.1 Rebounds, 2.6 Assists

I promise that I’m not just looking at the free agents from the Miami Heat for this list.

Jae Crowder is a 6-foot-6 small forward who can defend bigger players without giving up much.

He could play small or power forward and allow the New Orleans Pelicans to put Ingram on the opponents’ worst wing when they share the court.

Crowder is a streaky three-point shooter (33.6% for his career) but since joining Miami his shot has gone in much more than it did in Memphis.

Before the trade deadline Crowder was shooting a lowly 29.3% from downtown but since joining Miami he’s shot 39.3% and he’s shooting it more often from three in Miami vs. Memphis (6.8 three-point attempts vs 5.9 three-point attempts per game).

When Crowder has space like he does in Miami and like he would in New Orleans, opposing teams would be forced to contest his shot or risk him knocking down the wide open three’s that Zion creates for teammates.

Crowder turns 30 in July and may want to a long-term deal that pays him into his mid-30’s.

His current contract pays him $7.8 million this year and while that may seem like a lot for a streaky shooter like Crowder, the New Orleans Pelicans are currently paying Darius Miller nearly the same amount this season and next.

Crowder is a better all-around player than Miller, so the Pelicans should jump at that price if they can get it.