The New Orleans Pelicans may have an internal answer to an offseason question in Frank Jackson.
The New Orleans Pelicans will head into the offseason with a lot of needs, one of which they should fill internally.
They definitely need bigs, and will likely look outside of the organization to find them, as they don’t have a lot of options in house.
They need a wing with size who can defend, again, this player will have to be found in free agency or via trade, as they don’t have a lot of choices, unless you like Zylan Cheatham, which I do.
They will also need a backup point guard, and while many people are calling for a veteran free agent, I firmly believe they should fill the role with Frank Jackson.
I should start by saying that Jackson is not really a point guard. He’s more of a combo guard with handles who can play off the ball or run the offense.
His future in this league is probably at point guard, as he has the quickness to play there and the size to be a problem for the opposition.
Frank Jackson was one of the few bright spots in the bubble and will be entering restricted free agency, so the Pelicans will have some decisions to make.
Here are three reasons the New Orleans Pelicans should re-sign Frank Jackson.
Frank Jackson Fills a Need
The New Orleans Pelicans need a guard who has the size to defend both guard positions, plays with energy, and can get his own shot occasionally.
Call me crazy, but that’s exactly what we saw out of Jackson in the bubble. He played with intensity and effort throughout, which is a skill many of his teammates don’t have.
Jackson has good size, can defend both guard spots and is strong enough to get to the rim and finish through contact, as he did several times last night against the Magic on his way to 31 points.
The more run Frank Jackson gets, the better he plays, which is why he can absolutely be a guy who gets a consistent 20 minutes off the bench in whatever guard role the Pelicans need that night.
Frank Jackson plays with pace, pushes the ball when he can, and is an improved 3-point shooter, which he flashed at times in the bubble, and maybe most importantly, he takes care of the ball.
Jackson had zero turnovers in 36 minutes against the Magic, which led to the Pelicans having a respectable 13 overall, something that has been a problem all season.
Jackson’s energy and defensive intensity is important on a team that often lacks it, and he could be a part of the team’s future second unit backcourt.
The New Orleans Pelicans should re-sign Frank Jackson to play with Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
His Fit with NAW
The New Orleans Pelicans have Nickeil Alexander-Walker signed through the 2022-23 season and clearly see him as part of the future.
One wrinkle I did not expect in the bubble was to see NAW as the primary ball handler while Frank Jackson was also on the floor.
When the two played together, Jackson played off the ball, a move I’m not sure I agree with, but it worked occasionally.
The Pelicans are clearly intrigued with NAW’s size at the point guard position, as he creates mismatches, can get to the rim and is an effective passer at times.
But he also turns the ball over way too much, so for this to work, NAW has to improve his handles.
This was all on full display against the Magic, as Jackson and NAW combined for 60 points, 12 assists and two steals. Unfortunately, NAW also added six turnovers, which is something he has to correct.
The Pelicans may decide that having two combo guards on the floor at the same time is not tenable, but both have size, can defend and get to the hoop.
The Pelicans might want to bring in a veteran point guard either way, but I like the idea of Jackson and NAW playing and growing together, as they have complementary skill sets and could present a lot of matchup problems with their size.
The New Orleans Pelicans should re-sign Frank Jackson, as there isn’t much else.
A Weak Crop of Free Agents
Let’s start with the pertinent details:
Frank Jackson is 22-years-old and made just over $1.6 million for the season. His qualifying offer for next season is $2.02 million, but it’s almost certain some other team will beat that.
How much more another team offers will matter a lot, as the Pelicans aren’t going to break the bank for Jackson, but if his next contract is in that range, say 3 years, $10 million, then they should match it.
If you take a look at the guys who are in Jackson’s Q.O. range, you’ll find players like Ben McLemore, Edmond Sumner and Anfernee Simons. I’d take Frank Jackson over any of them.
There also aren’t a whole lot of veteran free agents out there who the Pels could realistically afford. Guys like Goran Dragic or even D.J. Augustin will probably cost far more than the Pelicans can pay for a backup.
If you look at the list of unrestricted free agent guards, it is hardly inspiring and most of the good players are well out of the Pels’ range.
They simply may not have a better option than a 22-year-old up and coming player who has a high I.Q. and has shown signs of improvement.
The Pelicans could still go the trade route of course, but they’d have to dip into their coffers for picks or give up a player to do it, while Frank Jackson will cost them nothing but money.
I don’t know if Jackson is ready for full-time backup duties, but he’s got me intrigued and can be a valuable contributor to the Pelicans, even as a third guard off the bench.
The New Orleans Pelicans have one offseason question that they can answer with Frank Jackson.