The New Orleans Pelicans are watching their playoffs hopes start to slip away, which is why they should be keeping an eye on the future.
The Pelicans need to remake their bench, that much is clear, as it is the biggest weakness of the team and killing them in each and every game.
The Pels can’t hold leads because the bench is terrible, which leads to a lot more pressure being put on the starters, which has taken its toll on guys like Brandon Ingram, who tends to wear down as the game goes on.
The good news is that Zion Williamson has been spectacular and he and Brandon Ingram very much look like franchise cornerstones.
The New Orleans Pelicans don’t need drastic changes, which is why I am against trading Lonzo Ball unless an even better defender comes back in the trade.
The Pels really just need the right types of role players to put around Zion Williamson, and they might be able to find some in free agency in the upcoming offseason.
Here are six low-cost guys that would add skills that the Pelicans need to balance their roster and improve their bench.
New Orleans Pelicans: Torrey Craig and Stanley Johnson would add wing depth
Torry Craig: Craig was a guy I thought the Pelicans should have pursued in the offseason, as he has good size for the wing and could have helped the Pelicans woeful defense.
He has not played much for Milwaukee, but I guarantee he’d get minutes for the Pelicans, who desperately need players who hustle, play defense and don’t care about their stats.
Craig fits the bill and if they can get him on a veteran’s minimum, he could provide low-cost bench depth and defense. This was a guy who was playing big minutes in the Finals last year and would also provide some toughness and experience.
Stanley Johnson: I’ve been laughed at many times for suggesting this but it looks like Stanley Johnson might finally be figuring things out in Toronto.
Johnson has always had the size and skillset to be a good wing defender who can guard multiple spots but he is starting to shoot and pass the ball better as well. He is shooting 41 percent from 3-point range this season (albeit on a low number of attempts) and might be worth a minimum deal if the New Orleans Pelicans still need depth on the wing heading into next season.
New Orleans Pelicans: Otto Porter Jr. and Jabari Parker might add low-cost wing depth
Otto Porter Jr.: Porter Jr. is known for having one of the worst contracts in the NBA, but you can’t hold that against him once it is over. Porter is shooting 40 percent from 3-point range this season and the next team who signs him will likely get a massive discount as he tries to rebuild his value and show he can stay healthy.
He may not be able to stay healthy, so this could be a stay-away for the New Orleans Pelicans but he has the talent and size to be a 3-and-D wing if he can figure it all out.
He is getting 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Bulls this year, which along with his 6-foot-8 frame, would look pretty good coming off the Pelicans’ bench, especially on a team-friendly deal.
Jabari Parker: It seems like Parker has been in the league for 100 years but he is still miraculously only 24-years-old.
He is not a 3-point shooter, so there is some argument about fit, but he can score and right now the Pels need just about anyone who can get buckets, no matter how he gets them.
Parker is averaging 14 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 24 minutes this season, numbers that the Pels could use when their second unit stops scoring.
The fit might not be there but Parker could be a guy worth taking a look at for bench scoring in the offseason and still has room to improve.
New Orleans Pelicans: Free agents Kelly Olynyk and Nerlens Noel are fits
Kelly Olynyk: I’ve often thought that Olynyk would be a good stretch-four to put next to Zion Williamson.
He hasn’t shot the ball well this season, but is a 37 percent career 3-point shooter and would certainly be an upgrade over whatever Nicolo Melli is.
Olynyk is not much of a defender, which is a problem, but he can run the pick-and-roll and would add another weapon for the Pelicans on offense.
It will be interesting to see what type of contract he gets as a free agent, as Miami is unlikely to re-sign him
He’s still under 30 and would be a nice fit in some ways on the Pelicans.
Nerlens Noel: I’ve been talking about Nerlens Noel for a LONG TIME now but the fact still remains that the Pels lack rim protection and he can provide it. He’d be a huge upgrade over Jaxson Hayes and is currently getting nearly two blocks per game in just 19 minutes.
He’d be the best shot blocker on the New Orleans Pelicans by far, probably won’t cost much and could be an upgrade off the bench if the Pels decide to move on from Hayes at some point in favor of veterans who know how to play the game.
None of these guys are going to put the New Orleans Pelicans over the top by themselves, but they are the type of bench depth that quality teams need to have.