The New Orleans Pelicans should be willing to take chances on players that can do everything but shoot.
When the New Orleans Pelicans added Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball last summer, they got two young players with loads of potential but questions about whether they would ever reach their ceilings.
The biggest knock against both was their streaky shooting from three-point range. Both were decent in their last season in Los Angeles, averaging around 30 percent from deep, but neither was elite.
After just one season with New Orleans, both still aren’t quite elite, but they’ve definitely jumped up a level from where they were. Lonzo improved from 32.9 to 37.5 percent and Ingram went from 33 to 39.1 percent.
That increased shooting percentage is pretty good on its own, to add to that both increased the number of attempts per game while shooting better.
Much of that improvement can be attributed to the players themselves putting in the work to get better, although some of the credit needs to go to the Pelicans coaching staff, most notably Fred Vinson.
There have been stories written about the three of them going back to the practice gym and getting up shots after returning to the Crescent City from road games.
The Pelicans have other players on the roster who need to work on their jumpers as well to have a greater impact on a game. Jaxson Hayes could develop a three-point stroke to create more space within the offense, Zion Williamson needs to become a more consistent shooter so that opposing defenses can’t build a wall against him, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker needs to take better shots so that he doesn’t stall offensive possessions.
If the Pelicans can help fix the famously awkward-looking jumper of Lonzo Ball there’s reason to believe that New Orleans can become home to other players whose main deficiency is a poor jump shot.
Let’s look at a few players that New Orleans can look to sign as free agents or acquire in a trade.