The New Orleans Pelicans Need to Unite the Ball Brothers

LaMelo Ball fits the New Orleans Pelicans Roster and Timeline

The Pelicans have the rare opportunity to put together a “super” team without signing a free agent, which is rare in the NBA.

They already have Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo and Jrue Holiday, who are all All-Star calibre players with valuable skills.

Adding another All-Star calibre player would give the Pelicans something rarely seen in the NBA, a “Big Five.”

Few modern teams have amassed such an amount of talent.

LaMelo also fits well with what the Pelicans already have and what they require. They need a backup point guard to run the second unit, preferably a pass-first table setter who can get the ball to the Pelicans’ many shooters.

It would also help if he could defend a little and occasionally carry the team offensively when the long-range shots aren’t falling.

LaMelo fits this description perfectly. Like Lonzo Ball, LaMelo is a pass-first point guard. Also like Lonzo, he has problems with his shot, but if he can improve with Fred Vinson as his brother has, the Pelicans would have another dominant playmaker who can occasionally carry the team offensively.

LaMelo’s defense is not close to Lonzo’s at this point, but he has the size and skill set to develop into an elite defender, which would give New Orleans four versatile, plus-defenders on the perimeter in the Balls, Holiday and Josh Hart.

This is big considering that rim protection and points in the paint have been two big weaknesses. Guards are the first line of defense and if the Pels can keep teams out of the lane, it will cover some of their defensive deficiencies down low.

LaMelo also fits the Pelicans timeline perfectly, as Jrue Holiday’s contract will be over just about the time he’d be due for a raise, so the Pelicans can just keep staggering talent, adding one potential All-Star to replace another.

LaMelo fits the team and he fits the timeline, but there are other reasons the Pelicans should draft him.