New Orleans Pelicans: 3 free agents Stan Van Gundy could recruit

New Orleans Pelicans: Stan Van Gundy could recruit free agent Aron Baynes

Aron Baynes

Ideally, the New Orleans Pelicans could find a fairly cheap, veteran center to take some of the minutes from Jaxson Hayes.

If this person was big, could defend the other team’s interior players and could stretch the floor for Zion Williamson, even better.

Enter Aron Baynes.

Baynes is not as good a rebounder or defender as Derrick Favors, but he does other things that Favors cannot do, namely shoot the 3-point shot and spread the floor.

He should also be a lot cheaper, so the Pelicans could potentially sign Baynes and still have some cap space depending on how their offseason shakes out. The big Aussie has improved from behind-the-arc, remaking himself as a stretch-five in Boston, where he had some huge games.

He shot 35 percent from 3-point range, which is very good for a center and would potentially clear some space for Zion to operate in the post.

Baynes isn’t much of a shot-blocker, but he has a big body, which he uses effectively to push shooters off their spots.

Baynes played under Van Gundy for two seasons in Detroit and SVG was the first coach to give him a chance, so Baynes might like to reunite in New Orleans. Now that he can shoot, he’d be even more of a weapon in Van Gundy’s offense.

None of these three free agents are going to be the final piece of the puzzle, but they are all solid players who fill a need for the Pels.

Let’s hope SVG can use his contacts to recruit some quality veteran free agents to improve the New Orleans Pelicans’ depth.