Pelica Debrief
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New Orleans Pelicans: One Realistic Free Agent Option from Every Team

By Aaron Kellerstrass

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 28: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives the ball around Justin Holiday #8 of the Indiana Pacers (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 28: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives the ball around Justin Holiday #8 of the Indiana Pacers (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Pelicans, Nerlens Noel
Nerlens Noel #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up against the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Pelicans: Free Agent Options in the Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets- Torrey Craig

The Nuggets have a number of intriguing free agents, but it’s difficult to know if the Pels would be in the market for any of them until we see how things shake out. Paul Millsap would be an interesting option, but he might prefer to join a team that is closer to a title or one that will pay him more than the Pels could. Craig is a wing defensive specialist, which is exactly what the Pelicans need. He has length, knows his role and would add nice depth behind Brandon Ingram. Craig is definitely a guy the Pels should take a hard look at.

OKC Thunder- Nerlens Noel

OKC is another team who has some free agents that would be high atop the Pels’ wish list if money were not an issue. Danillo Gallinari would be a perfect stretch-four next to Zion Williamson and Andre Roberson is the 3-and-D wing the Pelicans need, but both will likely be too expensive. I’ve written a lot about Nerlens Noel, so I won’t go too deep here, but he is exactly the type of long, rim protector the Pelicans need. He’s athletic, still young, he’s cheap and he personally blocked more shots than the entire Pelicans team combined in the bubble.

Utah Jazz- Emmanuel Mudiay

The Jazz don’t have a lot of free agents in the Pels’ range. Mudiay would be an interesting reclamation project (exactly what Utah thought) as he is still just 23-years-old and has flashed some talent. He has good size and still has some upside, so this could be a potential risk/reward pick up if the Pels want to take a chance on a backup point guard.

Portland Trail Blazers- Carmelo Anthony

I can’t believe I just wrote that. Melo has his red flags but he has re-invented himself on the Trail Blazers, can still get buckets and is actually trying on defense. The Pels could do worse as small forward depth for Ingram, but this is more an indication of the Blazers lack of free agents, as Hassan Whiteside is the only other guy and he’ll be too pricey for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Minnesota Timberwolves- Juan Hernangomez

Juan Hernangomez is another guy who re-invented himself on his new team. Though it was a small sample size of just 14 games with the Wolves, he averaged 12.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 42% from long-range on nearly five attempts a game. He has potential as a stretch-four, has the size to defend bigs and is still only 24-years-old. It seems like he might have figured some things out with the Timberwolves and the Pelicans might be able to get him cheap just before he breaks out.