Pelicans NBA Draft: Ty-Shon Alexander is the next Lou Williams

Limitations to both speed and size might make the New Orleans Pelicans think twice about Ty-Shon Alexander

Ty-Shon Alexander’s Weaknesses

In the same mold as a lot of the second round prospects I’ve covered, Ty-Shon Alexander is one of those players who’s technically sound but lacks the elite athletic ability teams covet in the modern NBA.

Is Alexander a bad athlete? No, but he won’t be running teams out of the building in the NBA. A slow burst has proven to limit him at times in his ability to attack the basket at a high rate. The Pelicans had issues with attacking the basket last season too, and that might give the team some cause for pause.

I’d argue that Alexander’s ability to slip into creative mid-range shots on drives makes up for his lack of finishing ability, but in the modern NBA, most teams don’t want role players taking mid-range shots.

Secondly comes size. Alexander is a scorer but also a tweener player. He was used as a wing at times at Creighton but with a 6’4″, 195 lbs frame, it’s safe to say he’ll lack that versatility in the NBA.

With a smaller frame and lower weight than most people in at his height, teams will probably question if Alexander can handle playing defense and getting physical in the modern NBA. Does that mean he has no role in the modern game? Absolutely not!

I think with some smart coaching and strategy there’s a brilliant way for the New Orleans Pelicans to harness Ty-Shon Alexander’s talents. Let’s take a look at that role.