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

New Orleans Pelicans-Free Agent Centers in 2021

Centers

Rudy Gobert/ Andre Drummond/ Steven Adams/ Gorgui Dieng/

Kelly Olynyk/ Robin Lopez/ JaVale McGee/ Boban Marjanovic/

Khem Birch/ Willie Cauley-Stein

This list is why I don’t want the Pelicans to waste much money in free agency this offseason.

There are plenty of guys here who could help the Pelicans, whether they chose to go for it with someone like Gobert, Drummond or Adams, or went with a cheaper options like Robin Lopez or Khem Birch.

This offseason someone is going to overpay Hassan Whiteside, Marc Gasol and Tristan Thompson (and probably Meyers Leonard and Aron Baynes) because there isn’t a ton of talent for free agent bigs.

I really like Kelly Olynyk for the Pelicans, who fits in as a stretch-five and should come on a reasonable contract compared to Gobert or Drummond.

I even like Robin Lopez as a cheap option, as he sets great screens, plays tough team defense and is developing a 3-point shot of his own.

I absolutely love Boban, though I don’t think he’s much of a fit with the Pelicans. Even Khem Birch and Cauley-Stein could have value on the right contract.

There are plenty of reasons for the New Orleans Pelicans to try and save as much cap space as possible for the 2021 free agent class.

These are just the unrestricted free agents, and the pool gets a lot deeper when you consider guys with team and player options that might not get picked up.

I’m not suggesting the Pels don’t try to get better in 2020, but they should do it with one eye on 2021.