New Orleans Pelicans starting lineup: locks, fringe and potential break-ins

New Orleans Pelicans: Players on the fringe of the starting lineup

The Fringe

The fringe starters usually get into the first five because of injury, so let’s hope that is not the case this season.

Last season, Nicolo Melli was forced into starter’s duties because of injury and it didn’t work out particularly well for the Pelicans. If Melli has to play big minutes again this season, we know something went horribly wrong.

But there might also be some matchups where Stan Van Gundy wants to move things around, or it might just be the case that one of these fringe players outplays a starter and earns that spot.

The first is J.J. Redick, a guy who could very well be in the starting lineup to start the season. For one, Stan Van Gundy knows and trusts Redick more than anyone else on the team. He’s the veteran leader and a guy he has coached in the past.

Also, the starting five could use an injection of shooting. There aren’t any poor shooters other than Adams, but no lights-out shooters either.

Josh Hart is a guy who could get some run with the starters, especially if SVG feels more comfortable with Bledsoe as the focal point of the bench unit.

Hart is a versatile player who fits in with almost any lineup, so if the Pels want to shake things up, he could move into a starter’s role, possibly sending Bledsoe or even Lonzo to the bench.