New Orleans Pelicans: What to do with Kenny Hustle?

The New Orleans Pelicans Should Let Kenrich Williams Walk

When you look at Kenrich Williams on paper and what he could potentially provide the New Orleans Pelicans, it’s easy to see how he makes sense.

He’s a wing with a high motor, can defend multiple positions and brings a bit of the edge that the young Pelicans lack.

But so far Williams has only done these things in theory.

He played in just 35 games for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, averaging 3.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes per game.

Williams shot just 34.3 percent from the field, including an abysmal 26 percent from 3-point range on 2.7 attempts per game. In case you’re wondering, that is not good.

Williams long-range shooting was so bad that he didn’t even rank in the top 150 players in that category.

Williams’ $1.41 million salary puts him among the lowest paid wings in the game, but when you look at some of the players just above or just below him, you’ll see there is better value to be had.

The New Orleans Pelicans could easily replace Williams’ production with a guy on a rookie contract or replace him with a veteran like Wilson Chandler or Anthony Tolliver, who make similar amounts of money.

Williams is certainly a better defender than most of the players in his salary range, but has yet to show it much on the court, playing in 46 games last season and just 35 in this one.

The Pelicans can’t afford to carry any dead weight, as their bench money will have to be allocated efficiently if they want to have a deep team. That means unproven guys like Williams gotta go.

They can replace him the draft or with a veteran free agent that brings more to the team than an “on paper” fit.