New Orleans Pelicans: How Team Additions Impact Stretch Run

Now that the New Orleans Pelicans’ roster is set, let’s take a look at how additions to each teach will affect their chances.

With the news that players would be given the power to choose for themselves whether to return, the NBA also decided to increase the number of roster spots, which should work out well for the finally-healthy New Orleans Pelicans.

During a normal NBA, season teams can carry up to 15 players on the roster, for the restart in Orlando that number will be increased to 17.

That increase also allows teams to replace a player who is hurt and will miss the re-start anyway. While most roster spots will be filled from G-League affiliates, a few teams have chosen to sign free agents.

The New Orleans Pelicans have chosen not to cut any players on the roster to make room for a free agent or G-League call up. After the three-plus month layoff from games all those nagging injuries should be back to 100%.

This means the Pelicans will roll out lineups very similar to those used around the All-Star break when the team was basically the least injured it was all season.

It’s time to look at the additions to each roster and how they’ll impact their new team.

Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dort played a decent bit for the Thunder during his rookie season, in his 29 games with the team he averaged 22 minutes per game. His offense needs work as he was an inefficient shooter this season, his 48.4% effective field goal ranked 349th in the NBA (Kris Dunn had a 48.7 eFG% this season). Like Dunn, he brings more to the table defensively than he does offensively.

It will be interesting to see if Dort is used as the fourth guard for the Thunder during the playoffs or if the team is going to use the more experienced Terrence Ferguson in that role. Either way, the value of having a rookie play in these big games will be tremendous both for his growth and the teams in the coming years.

If Dort can prove to the team that he is a building block he could carve out a bigger role in the coming years after Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder move on to different teams.

Joakim Noah, Los Angeles Clippers

Seven years ago, this would have been a blockbuster deal the shockwaves of which would have been felt around the league for years to come. Sadly Noah’s last couple of years in Chicago were marred with various injuries, mostly lower leg injuries that cost him his starting job.

By bringing in Noah, the Clippers are adding an experienced center to their roster that is pretty young at the position as well as someone who’s defensive IQ is one of the best in the league. If Noah’s role is more coach than a player with LA, he’ll add to the knowledge of Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Beverly, Paul George, and Doc Rivers.

It would be fun to see Noah get a few minutes for old time’s sake but Doc will likely give any extra minutes to Ivica Zubac or Marcus Morris to get the more acclimated to the team.

P.J. Dozier, Denver Nuggets

Dozier is another Rest of the Season contract for a player who’s had some experience with the team. In 21 games with the Nuggets this season, Dozier has averaged 4.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in only 11.1 minutes.

He won’t be given nearly that much time in the playoffs (if any) but he does provide the team with a third point guard who makes the smart play more often than not. His 2.64 assist to turnover ratio is actually second on the team, behind only the super underrated Monte Morris. If push came to shove and Dozier was needed in the playoffs, Denver can count on him making the right call when on the floor.