New Orleans Pelicans: It’s time to see if Will Magnay can fix the frontcourt

Will Magnay has the tools needed to fix the New Orleans Pelicans’ frontcourt rotation

Some of you might not know who Will Magnay is. He’s a 6’10” big man from Australia that the Pelicans signed to a two-way contract near the end of the offseason. When the team announced his signing, we published our full thoughts on his potential, but I’ll reiterate those here based on the specific issues facing the team.

What Magnay brings to the table is athleticism, defense, and spacing. He’s still young at 22, but his development in Australia’s NBL suggests that he’s capable of becoming a solid center at the NBA level.

I look specifically at Magnay’s coordinated athletism as a plus. He’s can run the floor, but he’s also mobile enough to move and rotate on defense. This is something that Jaxson Hayes hasn’t mastered yet, and maybe he needs more time with the developmental staff of the court to learn this skill.

Aside from the mobility, I’m enticed by Magnay’s shot-blocking ability which is another trait that we thought Jaxson Hayes would show, but he hasn’t. Looking back at Magnay’s time in the NBL, you’ll see a lot of blocks and some violent ones reminiscent of Zion Williamson. That ability will be useful when the starting frontcourt is off the floor.

Lastly, Magnay has flashed the ability to shoot the 3 pointer in Australia. We thought when Nicolo Melli came from Europe he would bring that skill, but he failed to do that too. Maybe Magnay can come in and be the floor-stretching big the Pelicans are searching for.

Now, obviously, the question is, can Magnay handle the NBA? I don’t know, and I’m sure the Pelicans don’t really know either. What I can say is that I doubt Magnay would be worst than what the Pelicans are putting out now. So, why not throw him out there and see if he’ll succeed in a trial by fire situation?

If they do, the New Orleans Pelicans could find that the answer to one of their biggest questions is already on their payroll.