Two Players the New Orleans Pelicans Could Sign for the Stretch Run

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Zylan Cheatham #45 of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The New Orleans Pelicans Could Convert Zylan Cheatham

Zylan Cheatham

One option the Pelicans will have during the transaction window is to convert one of their two-way G-League players into a full-fledged NBA contract.

Zylan Cheatham seems to be the most likely candidate to be converted, as they already have a glut of guards and probably wouldn’t have a need for Josh Gray.

Cheatham is an elite athlete who possesses some of the qualities the Pelicans lack.

He is a gritty, hustle guy with a high motor who will run the floor and dive for loose balls. He’s also a good rebounder for his size, pulling down 11.9 boards per game in the G-League, which is a reflection of what he was able to do at Arizona State.

Cheatham is not much of a shooter, but he can pass and has good hands, averaging a steal a game in the G-League.

Cheatham has good size at 6-foot-8, 220 lbs. and may be able to guard bigger wings in short stretches for the New Orleans Pelicans.

It’s highly unlikely that Cheatham would get any run at the forward position unless the Pelicans got into foul trouble or were up against a player like LeBron who they just couldn’t stop and wanted to try something different.

But Cheatham could provide value in practices, as his hustle and defense could press the starters and somewhat simulate the wing size they will face in the final games.

This would also give the chance to see if Cheatham could be a low cost defensive wing option for next season. The Pelicans lack wing defenders but won’t have a ton of money to spend in free agency, so plugging a hole with a G-League player would be ideal.

Cheatham would be good competition for the Pelicans’ regulars and may provide a low-cost option for the future.