New Orleans Pelicans: Naji Marshall could replace Josh Hart

New Orleans Pelicans: Marshall is Hart but cheaper

Josh Hart’s role on the Pelicans is to bring energy, hustle and defense off the bench while knocking down open 3-point shots and running the floor.

This is pretty much the same skillset that Marshall brings to the table, especially when you consider that Hart’s 3-point shooting has taken a dip this season.

The biggest difference between the two is that Naji Marshall is on a two-way contract that will be dirt cheap for the Pelicans even after he is eventually converted to a full contract.

Josh Hart, on the other hand, will likely command as much as $15-18 million this offseason in free agency, which would put pressure on the Pelicans’ salary cap that is already stretched pretty thin.

If the Pelicans want to keep Lonzo Ball and make meaningful additions to their bench next season, then they need to find guys like Marshall who can produce on team-friendly contracts.

Marshall is not as good as Josh Hart, but he can probably provide 80 percent of what Hart gives you at a fraction of the cost, which would free up more cap space for the New Orleans Pelicans to use on other, more pressing needs.

Marshall has shown he will bring the kind of hustle and energy and Hart is known for and can do it for cheap.