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

New Orleans Pelicans: What players could break into the starting lineup?

The Break-Ins

Every season there are a few young guys who break into the starting lineup later in the season after arriving ahead of schedule.

It’s hard for rookies and young guys to contribute right away but there are some possibilities for the Pelicans.

If Kira Lewis Jr. is as good as advertised, then it is possible that he will get some run with the starting five at some point in the season. He adds another playmaker and scorer and would allow them to have veteran Bledsoe run the second unit.

Lewis Jr. may not be ready for primary ballhandling duties, but by midway through the season, he may have shown enough to make the leap into the starting five. It is even more likely if the Pelicans were to trade Bledsoe at some point before the deadline.

Another player who is poised to make a leap is Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Van Gundy is going to love his size and versatility, so if NAW improved on the defensive end and cut down his turnovers, he could also play off the ball as the starting two-guard.

These two are unlikely to break into the starting lineup, but if they have progressed, you never know. It would be a good thing actually, as the bench unit would then be more established and productive.

The New Orleans Pelicans may have dozens of different starting lineups this year and could see some new faces in the starting five before it is over.