New Orleans Pelicans: 3 Hustle Players to Target in free agency, trades

New Orleans Pelicans: The Pels Should Target Torrey Craig

Torrey Craig

If you looked at Torrey Craig’s stats you would not think he’d be playing big minutes on a team with title aspirations, but here we are.

Craig puts up virtually no traditional stats for the Denver Nuggets, yet often plays more than 20 minutes a game.

Craig is a defensive specialist who is often brought in to slow down the other team’s best offensive player. He’s got good size at 6-foot-7, 220 lbs. and can defend at least three positions effectively.

He doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective and gets most of his points off of run outs or put backs. Craig is a deflector on defense, grabs a lot of loose balls and contests shots.

He can put a body on some of the giant wings in the Western Conference, is making a modest $2.1 million and probably won’t get much of a raise.

He’s the type of versatile defender and hustle player the Pels should be targeting, as guys like Craig are a big part of why teams like Denver are good every season.

He produces on a small contract, won’t eat up your cap and will complement your stars.

The Pelicans don’t necessarily need to make a splashy move, but they need to add some grit and hustle, which should be easy to do this offseason.