New Orleans Pelicans: 2 Under-the Radar Free Agents to Watch at Disney

New Orleans Pelicans: Under-the-radar free agent wing

Josh Jackson: Small Forward, Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies bought low on potential when they traded for Josh Jackson and the results have been mixed.

The team declined Jackson’s 2020-21 option and demoted him to the G-League early in the season, forcing him to earn his way back on the team.

Jackson finally did and has been steadily improving off the Grizzlies’ bench, averaging 10.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in just 19.8 minutes per game.

Jackson is still just 22-years-old and at 6-foot-8 has the size and length to defend multiple positions, something the Pelicans desperately need.

Jackson has never been much of a shooter, averaging just 29.8% from 3-point range for his career, but this was also true of Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball before working with shooting coach Fred Vinson.

If Jackson can improve his 3-point shooting he could be a valuable wing off the Pelicans’ bench, as he averages a steal a game and is a decent shot blocker on the weak side.

Jackson was having a great month of March before the suspension, scoring in double digits in five straight games.

The Pelicans will get a chance to scout Jackson up close, as they will play Memphis at least once in Orlando and it could be as many as three times.

The Grizzlies will have to decide if they want to gamble on Jackson’s continued improvement and if he’s worth re-signing in the offseason.

The Pelicans would potentially have the chance to steal away a low-risk/high-reward type player from a division rival, and if Jackson ever panned out, it would look like strategic genius on the part of the Pelicans.

Of course, the Pels could just be the next team to bet and lose on Jackson’s talent, but even if they do, it probably won’t cost them much.

Neither of these players are going to be the piece that gets the Pelicans to the Finals, but they could be important, low-cost bench contributors, which the Pels will need if they want to keep their “Big Three” for the long-term.