The New Orleans Pelicans Need to Keep an Eye on 2021 Free Agency

Forget 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans need to plan for 2021 free agency.

I wrote an article yesterday that had the gall to suggest that the New Orleans Pelicans shouldn’t devote a lot of resources to the center position this offseason.

It was thoroughly mansplained to me that I was in fact an idiot, and that there were tons of better options than the inexpensive ones I suggested.

Of course, not a single name was offered, but hey, there are options! I linked to the unrestricted free agent centers in the article, so you can see for yourself that there in fact are not.

The lack of talent at the position (and most others) is just one of the reasons I suggest the Pelicans go cheap this offseason to prepare for next.

There are other reasons not to invest heavily at center:

1. They have a pretty good 20-year-old prospect in Jaxson Hayes who could develop into their starting center.
2. They will have very little cap space after extending Brandon Ingram.
3. The 2021 free agent class is absolutely loaded.

Yes, I would love Serge Ibaka or Danilo Gallinari, but not at the expense of extending Ingram, which is pretty much what would have to happen for the Pelicans to have significant cap space.

Next offseason the Pelicans should have more, though extending Lonzo Ball and possibly re-signing Josh Hart could eat up the bulk of it.

If they end up trading Jrue Holiday, the Pels could potentially open up another max slot, which would be a good idea considering how many great players will be available next offseason.

Let’s take a look at the list at each position.