With a short offseason, the New Orleans Pelicans will have to make decisions quickly on free agents.
The New Orleans Pelicans have a week until the draft. Two days later, free agency starts, which means they won’t have much time to make decisions.
The Pelicans likely have a list of guys they plan to pursue, but that list will blow up quickly as Woj starts bombing Twitter with news in the very first hour of free agency.
The Pels need some depth at both forward positions, a center and a backup point guard and some of those holes will be filled with their four draft picks.
They could also trade Jrue Holiday, and there are a number of interesting trades out there to consider. This is probably the best way to add depth and talent to the roster without going into the luxury tax.
There is also free agency but it is too soon to know exactly what the Pelicans’ plans are, as they still have no idea how much salary cap space they will have.
The salary cap has now been set, and after the Pels sign Brandon Ingram, they will have little, if any, money left over to spend, which is why most predict Holiday will be traded before free agency or soon after it starts.
Cap space aside, there are a number of free agents the Pels should pursue, but also some they should definitely pass on. Here are three small forwards the Pels should consider.
Danilo Gallinari
On paper, Danilo Gallinari would be a perfect forward to pair with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
He can play either forward position, runs the pick-and-roll as well as anyone and would stretch the floor and create space for the Pels’ two young scorers.
Gallinari is 32-years-old but coming off one of his best seasons where he averaged 18.7 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 40.5 percent from long range.
He’d make the New Orleans Pelicans’ offense nearly unstoppable.
But, there are a number of red flags.
First, he is 32-years-old.
Second, he made $22.6 million last season and could get a similar deal from someone.
Third, he can’t play a lick of defense.
Fourth, he has a long injury history.
The third and fourth reasons are really the most important, as the Pels may be able to open up some cap space by trading Holiday and they could use another veteran.
But the Pelicans’ defense is woeful and they can’t have another guy out there who can’t defend his position. Who is Gallinari going to guard with Ingram and Zion on the floor?
Finally, the Pels’ last season was derailed because of injury and they can’t take risks on high-priced guys who might not be on the floor.
It’s a nice idea, but no.
VERDICT: PASS
New Orleans Pelicans: Free agent small forwards, Jae Crowder
Jae Crowder
Jae Crowder is another 30-year-old small forward who might interest the Pelicans.
He moved around between Memphis and Miami last season and played a big role in the Heat’s run to the NBA Finals.
The knocks on Crowder are that he doesn’t rebound or make plays, isn’t a lights-out shooter and doesn’t really have a position.
These things are all true, Crowder averages just 4.1 rebounds per game for his career, doesn’t pass or create off the dribble much and is a 34 percent career 3-point shooter.
But most of the things Crowder does for a team do not show up in the scorecards. He is a big, tough and versatile defender who can body both forward positions and even hold his own against some centers.
He doesn’t require the ball to be effective but can knock down open 3-point shots and has proven he can do it on the biggest stage, as he hit some huge ones for Miami last season.
He would allow Ingram to defend the other team’s weaker wing and would provide the defensive intensity and effort the Pelicans lacked last season.
The only real issue is his salary. Crowder made $7.8 million last season and will probably be looking for one last big contract. He’ll likely move into the $10-12 million per season range depending on the length of the contract.
The Pels could only afford him if they move one of their veteran contracts and clear some cap space but he’d be a nice fit if they could make it happen.
VERDICT: PURSUE
New Orleans Pelicans: Free agent small forwards, Stanley Johnson
Stanley Johnson
I’ve been laughed at many times for suggesting the Pelicans (or any NBA team) should consider Stanley Johnson in free agency.
But when you are a team with little or no cap space, he is exactly the type of player you should look for to fill out your bench.
He will be a low-cost guy who will likely be on a minimum contract if he gets a guaranteed deal at all.
He was a lottery pick who still has a lot of upside, especially defensively. He is a big, strong dude who can defend all over the floor.
He can’t shoot at all but the Pelicans wouldn’t need him to, as they already have plenty of scoring.
Johnson presents little risk, as he will be on a tiny deal and if it doesn’t work out, he’s just a muscly cheerleader on your bench, no loss.
If he does pan out, you’ve got a guy who has elite defensive potential. If he could just get to league average in shooting, Johnson could be a weapon. And if not, it doesn’t cost them anything.
The Pelicans will have to take some risks on high ceiling/low floor guys in free agency if they want to get impact talent.
The Stanimal is young, has some potential and will be cheap, which is about all you can ask for when filling out the end of your bench.
VERDICT: PURSUE
New Orleans Pelicans free agency: Small forward Derrick Jones Jr.
Derrick Jones Jr.
Derrick Jones Jr. is one of the most interesting and difficult to gauge free-agent small forwards.
He’s another of Miami’s many free agents and probably going to be the toughest call for them to make.
He has obvious potential, especially as a wing defender, and already has a highlight reel full of dunks that are some of the most spectacular in the league.
Jones Jr.’s ceiling is a high-end 3-and-D rim runner who will defend the other team’s best player, shoot 3-pointers at an above-average rate and run the floor like a gazelle to catch Lonzo Ball alley-oops.
He is tantalizing to say the least.
But this is a guy who was his fourth season and barely got off Miami’s bench in the playoffs. He only played sparingly during the regular season, and aside from his legendary dunks, didn’t provide the Heat with much else.
He averaged just 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, though he did average a steal per game as well. Jones Jr. is a career 28.2 percent shooter from long range and averaged just 2.2 attempts for the Heat, highest in his career.
Jones Jr. may end up being a great defender but he doesn’t do much else, and someone is probably going to pay him upwards of $10 million a year based on a bunch of YouTube videos of him dunking.
He has nice potential, could end up being very good but there is not enough evidence to risk that much cap space on what could be this generation’s “great athlete, mediocre player.”
I like Jones Jr. on a value contract but it will take more than that to get him.
VERDICT: PASS
The New Orleans Pelicans have a lot of decisions to make and not much time to make them. Free agency is going to be here soon and they better have a plan.