New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Bell is Worth a Look

New Orleans Pelicans: How Jordan Bell could fit

The Pelicans definitely need defensive help, especially at the forward position.

They had problems stopping bigger forwards, as they don’t really have a power forward who defends well. Obviously no one really stops LeBron, but the Pelicans were particularly bad at doing so and looked physically overmatched in the process.

Bell would bring some muscle to the defense, potentially slowing down some of these larger forwards.

Bell could also get some run as a small-ball center against certain lineups. The Pelicans are a team that plays with pace, and Bell can run the floor and present mismatches, while not giving up too much defensively.

The Pelicans have plenty of scoring, so Bell’s offensive limitations wouldn’t be as pronounced in lineups full of shooters.

His defensive versatility would give the Pelicans a lot of lineup options, and they could potentially create their own “Lineup of Death” with Bell playing the role of a poor man’s Draymond Green.

That may be what the Warriors had in mind when they traded for Bell on draft night, but the difference is that Green is also a good passer and at least a passable 3-point shooter.

It’s telling that none of the NBA franchises grabbed Bell off waivers to give him a look, but that may be the kind of motivation Bell needs to improve his game and prove his doubters wrong.

Bell will likely get looks by several teams next year, may get a contract, almost certainly some Summer League invites, and if things break well for him, he’ll eventually find a home in the NBA.

Bell has traits that the New Orleans Pelicans need and would be a low-risk project that could pay off.