New Orleans Pelicans: Josh Hart will win 6th Man of the Year Next Season

Josh Hart made a name for himself off the New Orleans Pelicans’ bench and will have a good chance at the 6th Man of the Year award next season.

When Josh Hart was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis deal, most thought he was a throw-in for the Pels.

Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball were the big prizes in the trade and most fans even valued the draft picks the New Orleans Pelicans received more than Josh Hart.

But after one season with the Pelicans, Josh Hart has proven that he is far more than an afterthought.

Hart averaged 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds off the bench for the New Orleans Pelicans, numbers that put him among the best reserves in NBA.

Josh Hart’s rebounding average was 6th in the league for guards, an impressive feat considering he was playing just 27.4 minutes per game.

Hart has not put himself in the elites when it comes to bench guards yet, but he is getting close, especially when you factor his combination of points, rebounding and defense.

This year’s 6th Man of the Year award will likely go to Lou Williams again, or someone like Dennis Schroder.

Hart won’t win it this season, but he has a good chance at the award in 2020-21. Here’s why.

Josh Hart will have more responsibility for the New Orleans Pelicans

Josh Hart was a part of some of the New Orleans Pelicans’ most efficient lineups, and had played himself into being their most important bench player.

Hart’s defensive versatility allows him to guard multiple positions, which helps the Pelicans’ small-ball lineups.

Alvin Gentry gained more confidence in Hart as the season went on, often tasking him with defending the other team’s best wing, including LeBron James.

Though Hart’s 3-point shot got worse as the season went on, he still shot 34.2 percent from long-range and is sure to get more open looks with a full season of Zion Williamson drawing double teams in the post.

Josh Hart should see more shots than his 8.4 per game this season and has a chance to raise his scoring average into the 15-18 ppg. range.

With E’Twaun Moore, Kenrich Williams, Frank Jackson and Derrick Favors all likely to leave in free agency, the New Orleans Pelicans will need more out of the players they currently have, including Hart.

Hart will play more minutes, get more shots and be given more defensive responsibility next season, which will give him a more defined role and raise his profile around the league.

As the Pelicans experiment with more small-ball lineups involving Hart, he’ll get more run-outs, open looks and rebounds. It’s not hard to imagine Josh Hart averaging 15 points and 9 rebounds next season off the Pelicans’ bench, which would put him in the running for 6th Man of the Year.

But there’s a bigger reason for Hart to blow up.