The New Orleans Pelicans have several difficult decisions to make, including what to do with backup point guard Frank Jackson.
One of the most frustrating parts of the hiatus for the New Orleans Pelicans is not getting to see how some of their guys would have finished the season.
If the season does end up being cancelled, the Pelicans may have seen the last of free agents Derrick Favors, E’Twaun Moore, Kenrich Williams, Jahlil Okafor and Frank Jackson.
Most of these players are likely finished with the New Orleans Pelicans, but the team would have liked to see them finish out the season before making their final decisions.
This is especially true for backup point guard Jackson, who showed enough, especially towards the end of the season, to warrant a qualifying offer in free agency.
If you aren’t familiar with the term, here is a good breakdown by our friends at Sports Illustrated.
Basically, a qualifying offer, which must be made before the July deadline, keeps a player from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Teams can offer a one year deal and the player can re-sign or sign an offer sheet with another team, which the New Orleans Pelicans would have a chance to match.
Usually teams know their low-ball offer won’t be accepted so the Q.O. can be a way to drive up the price of a player for another team.
Sometimes the player accepts, plays out their one year deal and hits unrestricted free agency.
The New Orleans Pelicans are in this situation with Jackson, who is on the final year of his rookie deal and due for pay raise or a one-way ticket to another city.
Jackson is an interesting case, as he can potentially be had on a team-friendly deal unless another team really wants his services.
This begs the question: What should the New Orleans Pelicans do with Frank Jackson?