The New Orleans Pelicans are mired in a disappointing season but they have far more reason for hope than most of teams at the bottom of the Western Conference.
The Pels have a bonafide superstar in Zion Williamson, an All-Star scoring machine in Brandon Ingram and a playmaking defender in Lonzo Ball, a trio most teams would love the chance to build around.
But the Pels are lacking just about everywhere else, and there is some question about which of their three stars can actually lead this team.
Lonzo Ball will be a restricted free agent and may not even be on the team next season, though a trade is looking less likely.
Zion and Ingram are both soft-spoken and let their play do the talking for them, which is fine, but the Pels also need a few guys who are a bit more outspoken.
When they are targeting trades and free agents, the Pels should be looking for specific qualities, as they have some glaring problems that can’t be fixed simply by adding more lottery picks.
Here are three qualities the Pels need to target in future players if they ever want to take the next step as a team.
The New Orleans Pelicans need toughness
I hate to say this, but the Pelicans might be the softest team in the NBA. Obviously, a coward like myself would never say this to their faces, but we all know it is true.
This team has very little fight in them at times, doesn’t rally around each other and gets pushed around by just about everyone.
They rarely give hard fouls even though their superstar gets hacked mercilessly every game.
They rarely knock anyone down or retaliate when they get mugged, and frankly, it’s getting old.
I’m not suggesting they should be swinging on opponents or getting into fights, but at least show some pride. Most teams will eventually use an enforcer to put some fear into the other team after their superstar takes hard fouls but the Pels just stand around and watch.
They need some players with a bit of dog in them, guys with a little bit of crazy. The Pelicans are a very likable bunch of guys, but that is the problem, they need some villains.
I’d love for them to add some players with a an old-school mentality who will stick up for their teammates and show some fire because their stars are just too laid back to do it.
The New Orleans Pelicans need guys who can defend their position
Outside of Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and Steven Adams, the Pelicans do not really have any players who are good individual defenders.
Their guards are either too small or too slow. Ingram’s defense has barely improved in five years and Zion is definitely a work in progress.
The Pels don’t really have anyone who sees defense as their primary role, as they are all happy to chuck 3-point shots all game but few of them are willing to do the dirty work on the other end.
I would love the Pelicans to add 3-4 guys who view defense as their only task, guys who get down in their stance and take pride in stopping the other team’s best players.
The Pels almost always coast on the defensive end, which is whey they are 29th in the NBA in defensive efficiency even after hiring a coach who is known for defense.
You can blame Stan Van Gundy all you want, but defense is about effort and heart and right now the Pels aren’t showing much of either.
Whether they are in the draft, free agency or making trades, the Pelicans need to get some guys who are elite individual defenders or at the very least, care about it.
New Orleans Pelicans: The Pels need a leader
As I mentioned, the New Orleans Pelicans’ best three players are pretty quiet guys who are never going to get in their teammates’ faces.
That’s ok, as not every player is wired this way, but every good team needs at least one guy who is. Who is that guy on the Pelicans?
Veteran J.J. Redick occupied this role briefly but he isn’t good enough to be yelling at anyone this season and probably won’t be on the team past the trade deadline.
Zion may eventually evolve into that role but he has never been asked to do it before and is a fairly soft-spoken guy, though his play speaks pretty loudly.
The Pels need a veteran like Chris Paul who isn’t afraid to call out his teammates and tell them where they need to be and how to fix their mistakes.
Quiet guys can be leaders too, just look at Kevin Durant, who doesn’t talk much but is still considered a leader. But Durant has always had a Westbrook, or a Kyrie or a Draymond Green around him to assume that vocal role.
The New Orleans Pelicans don’t communicate enough, don’t hold each other accountable and they need a vocal leader to take charge at times.
The Pels have a ton of talent but they need to fine-tune their roster with guys who are tough, play defense and speak up.