New Orleans Pelicans: 3 players who Underperformed in 2019-20
E’Twaun Moore, Shooting Guard
Like Okafor, E’Twaun Moore was coming off one of his better seasons as a professional, but wasn’t able to maintain it for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Moore wasn’t expected to play huge minutes, as the Pelicans have a number of shooting guards, but Moore’s ability to knock down 3-pointers made him an important part of the Pelicans’ bench nonetheless.
Related Story. Pelicans break team 3-point record for 5th straight year. light
Moore was coming off a 2018-19 season where he averaged 11.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.6 minutes per game. Most importantly, he shot 43.2 percent from long-range, making him a huge threat off the bench.
Moore’s numbers have dipped in every single category this season, starting with his minutes dropping to 18.8 per game. What really hurt Moore’s case was his 3-point shooting, which dipped to just 37.5 percent, not terrible, but much worse than the previous two seasons when Moore was one of the best in the NBA.
With the New Orleans Pelicans adding Josh Hart, J.J. Redick and Lonzo Ball, it wasn’t surprising to see Moore’s minutes go down, but he didn’t make the most of the time he was given.
Moore occasionally provided a defensive spark off the bench and his veteran leadership was clear, especially after Redick went down with injury.
Related Story. Where does JJ Redick rank among active shooters?. light
But Moore is paid to shoot 3-pointers, so if he can’t do that at a high rate, his value plummets. Considering he made $8.66 million this season, Moore’s production did not match his cost.
He’s one of several New Orleans Pelicans who will probably have a new home next season.