New Orleans Pelicans: Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s Development is key for 2021

Nickeil Alexander-Walker can unlock a lot of potential in the New Orleans Pelicans line-up

Whenever we talk about the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason, it’s always about the additions they need to make to become a contender. Today, I want to focus on a different aspect of this Pelicans offseason which is growth.

Internal growth is the key to every NBA contender’s life cycle, that’s why the New Orleans Pelicans are so focused on developing their youthful roster. That concept goes beyond just Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson though.

One of the players that I think is most important for the New Orleans Pelicans internal development is combo-guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker who’s entering his second year.

What Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s development brings to the New Orleans Pelicans

Nickeil Alexander-Walker spent most of last season developing in the G-League and getting acclimated to the NBA game, but once he appeared in the NBA bubble he flashed what he can bring to the New Orleans Pelicans on both ends of the court.

The reason I believe that Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be one of the keys to the New Orleans Pelicans improvement in 2021 is because of all the things he can bring to the roster. That starts with his positional flexibility.

In the early stages of his career, Alexander-Walker is showing that he’s capable of playing both guard spots on and off the ball. When he’s playing with the team’s second unit without a primary point guard, he’s willing to distribute to create open shots. If he’s next to a true point guard like Lonzo Ball though, Alexander-Walker strives as a cutter and a shooter looking to score.

I believe that there’s still even more use for Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the New Orleans Pelicans offense if he improvements lead to more playing time next season. Realistically, he could strive as a super-sixth man in the Lou Williams/Manu Ginobili role.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is developing on the defensive end of the court as well. He’s starting to show strong perimeter defense as well as a knack for forcing turnovers and blocking other guards shots. These developments in Alexander-Walker’s game bring a guard with strong two-way skills to the Pelicans roster.

Why Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s growth is so important to the Pelicans

The way that Nickeil Alexander-Walker is developing right now is important to the New Orleans Pelicans because he can improve a lot of the team’s present weaknesses without costing them a lot of money.

We wrote recently that one of the biggest things the New Orleans Pelicans were missing was a competent bench unit. If Nickeil Alexander-Walker comes into next season playing like how he played in the bubble then he would be able to strengthen that bench unit.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s production will also spread to the team’s starting line-up as well. Alexander-Walker is a smoother offensive fit with the New Orleans Pelicans than Jrue Holiday at times so adding him to the team’s young star trio would give them an excellent cutter and shooter to look to in pressured moments.

Lastly, the New Orleans Pelicans played putrid defense last year it was some of the grossest defense I’ve ever seen played at times. Utilizing an improved Nickel Alexander-Walker more would be one way to fix the team’s defensive issues.

I believe that there was a reason team vice president David Griffin selected Nickeil Alexander-Walker over some other NBA-ready prospects in the 2019 NBA Draft. He’s continually developing and showing flashes of what he is becoming, and that’s the glue-guy that the New Orleans Pelicans need for success during this next era.