New Orleans Pelicans: Tre Jones Could be the Perfect Backup Point Guard

Tre Jones’ Strengths

The New Orleans Pelicans have the best starters in the NBA, but their bench has not been good.

They need a backup point guard who can run the offense while Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday are on the bench, as their second unit is full of spot-up shooters who do not make plays.

We suggested a possible move for Holiday to the bench, but a more likely move is for the Pelicans to find a backup point guard who can facilitate.

Jones ticks all of the boxes that the New Orleans Pelicans are looking for in a backup point guard.

He is a good passer and facilitator, averaging 6.4 assists for the Blue Devils on his way to winning ACC Player of the Year.

But Jones is not all about the offense. He can be a lockdown defender as well and won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, an impressive feat for a point guard.

With spot up shooters like Nicolo Melli and Redick coming off the bench, the New Orleans Pelicans need a backup who can get his teammates the ball and Jones profiles as a guy who can do it.

One of the biggest knocks against Jones was his shooting, but he improved his 3-point percentage to 36.1 on 3.7 attempts per game, numbers that translate to the next level.

He is also a good rebounder for his size, pulling down 4.2 a game, a quality the New Orleans Pelicans like in their guards.

Jones’ biggest strengths may be his intangibles. He is a winner and a leader who makes players around him better.

The New Orleans Pelicans already have plenty of scoring, but if they can find a facilitator off the bench, it would give them a lot more lineup flexibility and reduce the number of blown leads.

Jones’s basketball I.Q. and ability to facilitate give him one of the highest floors in this draft. At minimum he will be a long-time backup point guard and if he further develops his shot, the New Orleans Pelicans could get a steal.

But he does come with some weaknesses.