New Orleans Pelicans: Nickeil Alexander-Walker is crucial for 2021 success
By Nick Alvarez
The New Orleans Pelicans will need Nickeil Alexander-Walker to perform if they want to make the playoffs in 2021
Last night there was something really interesting published about the New Orleans Pelicans. William Guillory, who covers the Pelicans for the Athletic, released his weekly mailbag (subscription required), which really focused on one central question. Did the organization do enough to make a playoff roster?
I found this question fascinating because I thought the team did plenty with the additions of Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, and Kira Lewis Jr, but Guillory argued that the West is so deep that even those moves might not be enough.
His point was that the Clippers, Lakers, Nuggets, Jazz, Trail Blazers, Mavericks, Warriors, and Suns are all in place to be playoff teams in 2021 while teams like the Rockets, Grizzlies, Spurs, and Timberwolves should be in the mix.
That certainly scared my hopes and hindered my expectations a bit, but then I focused on one more thing Guillory said, which was this:
"“I expect to see enough improvement from Nickeil Alexander-Walker to lock down those backup point guard minutes. He’ll certainly get every opportunity to prove he can be that guy.” – William Guillory via The Athletic (subscription required)"
Why Nickeil Alexander-Walker could be the New Orleans Pelicans’ X-factor in 2021
What Guillory said about Nickeil Alexander-Walker interested me a lot because I think what he was really trying to say about the playoffs is that the Pelicans have a top-heavy roster. They have the starting-caliber players to make the playoffs, but their depth is more questionable than those other teams.
That’s why this point on Nickeil is so important because he has the potential to be the rotational x-factor that a playoff team needs. Just remember what happened in the bubble. Nickeil finally got to showcase the work he put in during his stint in the G-League and looked like a Manu Ginobili-esque guard.
A left-hander who stands at 6’5″, if Alexander-Walker could continue that developmental path, he could be a weapon as a secondary point guard who even gives the team minutes at shooting guard and small forward too.
That’s what Guillory obviously recognized by making his statement that the young guard will see the bulk of the back-up point guard minutes, but he also acknowledged briefly that the Pelicans could use some three-guard lineups.
Three guard lineups are a rarity in the NBA, but the Oklahoma City Thunder proved last season that they can be effective in the NBA with the right personnel. Ironically enough with Zion Williamson and former Thunder player, Steven Adams in the mix, the Pelicans have the personnel to pull it off.
Unleashing a three-man tandem of Lonzo Ball, Kira Lewis Jr., and Nickeil Alexander-Walker could be really interesting as a secondary lineup, especially in Stan Van Gundy’s pick-and-roll heavy offense. Alexander-Walker would be the key to this because his size allows the team to play him at the wing and use this lineup.
If that can work effectively, it can become something that the Pelicans can rely on over the course of next season to make a playoff push. Just think, last year’s Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t have a deep rotation, but they had an elite starting line-up and a devasting three-guard line-up to turn to.
With Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s development, the New Orleans Pelicans could follow the same path to a top-6 seed in the 2020 Playoffs.