New Orleans Pelicans: One Free Agent to Watch in Every Eastern Conference First-Round Series

The New Orleans Pelicans will be watching these Eastern Conference series closely.

The New Orleans Pelicans will enter the offseason with a lot of question marks and moving pieces.

After a disappointing ending to the season, the Pelicans will look to shore up their weaknesses and fill some holes with the draft, trade market and free agency.

Depending on what happens in the draft or via trade, the Pelicans probably won’t have a lot of money to throw around in free agency.

They have eight free agents of their own, including restricted free agent Brandon Ingram, who is almost certain to get a max contract extension that will eat up most of the cap.

The Pels could still move someone in a trade to clear up some space, but they are unlikely to have the cap room to make a huge splash in free agency.

But with Derrick Favors, Kenrich Williams, E’Twaun Moore and Jahlil Okafor likely to move on, the Pelicans should have some money to fill their most pressing needs.

Most agree that after watching the Pelicans 20th ranked defense all season, which got worse in the bubble, that all of their free agent money should be thrown at defense.

They need to get bigger at power forward and on the wing, they need to bring in a legitimate rim protector and could use a steady backup point guard who can run the second unit.

The New Orleans Pelicans are lucky enough to already have three stars to build around in Ingram, Zion Williamson and Lonzo Ball, which makes them an attractive destination for any player who wants a shot to be on a consistent title contender.

Here is one player from every series in the East to keep an eye on, as all fit one of the Pelicans’ needs and should be in their price range.