Josh Hart has likely played his final game for the New Orleans Pelicans this season.
He suffered a torn ligament in his thumb that will be re-evaluated in three weeks, but all signs point to him missing the rest of the season.
This is a big blow to the New Orleans Pelicans, who are going through myriad injuries right now and really need Hart’s energy and production off the bench.
He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and there has long been speculation about whether the Pelicans will re-sign him or not.
He has been their best bench player all season but may have priced himself out of the Pels’ range depending on what other moves they make in the offseason.
So how will this injury affect Josh Hart’s value on the open market? First, let’s take a look at some of the other players who will be free agents this offseason.
New Orleans Pelicans: Restricted free agent shooting guards
Josh Hart’s value won’t just be determined by his points and rebounds, but by who else is on the market.
The restricted free agent market for shooting guards is pretty thin, which is bad news for the Pelicans, as there will be fewer guys for teams to try and lock up with “poison pill” offers that the Pels don’t want to match.
Josh Hart and Gary Trent Jr. are the top-two restricted free agent shooting guards and both will get substantial attention from their current teams as well as others who want to pry them away.
Malik Monk will also be out there. Hamidou Diallo will get some looks after an ascending season and Kendrick Nunn is almost certain to get an offer from Miami as well as other teams looking for his services.
The problem with making offers to restricted free agents is that teams then have to wait for an answer before they can pursue other guys. Luckily there are plenty of unrestricted free agents who will take some attention off of Hart.
New Orleans Pelicans: Unrestricted free agent shooting guards
There is a foursome of unrestricted free agent shooting guards who will get the most attention from teams around the NBA and may give the Pelicans a chance to re-sign Josh Hart before the market gets to him.
DeMar DeRozan will be the biggest name out there as he is still getting it done even though he is on the wrong side of 30. DeRozan will be an interesting case, as he can still get buckets, but doesn’t shoot many 3-point shots, which has always been the knock against him even though he’s been one of the most consistent scorers of his generation.
He will probably either have to take a lesser deal to go to a contender or stay on the Spurs or get more money from someone looking to add a splashy name.
Victor Oladipo is another guy who will draw a lot of attention, as he is a talented two-way player still at the end of his prime. Tim Hardaway Jr. will be out there, as will Evan Fournier, who has definitely played his way into a bigger contract this offseason.
Teams will probably go after these guys first and they will set the market for Hart’s next contract though he is not the scorer that any of these guys are.
But what is the market for Josh Hart? And will his injury hurt his value?
New Orleans Pelicans: Josh Hart’s injury and free agency
Josh Hart’s injury is to his thumb and even though it is serious, it is not expected to be something that will threaten his career.
The way Hart has shot this season, he may not even need a thumb, as his shot has declined as his rebounding and defense have gotten better.
Hart uses his athleticism and hustle to make an impact, so it’s not like a knee or foot injury that could slow him down, so I can’t see an injured thumb being the thing that keeps teams away from Hart.
That being said, the New Orleans Pelicans will still have the inside route to re-sign him if that is in their plans.
They own his Bird Rights, so will be able to offer more than any other team, but question is whether they will want to.
Hart has proven himself to be one of, if not the best rebounding guards in the NBA, pulling down eight per game, best of his career.
But he has also struggled shooting from long-range, dropping to 32.6 percent, worst of his career.
Do the Pelicans value his defense, hustle and intangibles more than they need shooting? The answer should be yes, as they have the 29th ranked defense in the league and have no problem scoring the ball, so guys like Hart are exactly what they need to put around Zion Williamson.
Hart’s injury could hurt his value some on the open market, but it’s more likely that the abundance of available shooting guards will be a bigger factor in the Pelicans’ chances of re-signing him.