New Orleans Pelicans: What can new signing James Nunnally add?

New Orleans Pelicans: What does James Nunnally add?

It seems to me like the New Orleans Pelicans are bringing in James Nunnally to add shooting and further fill out the team’s wing positions.

At a surface level, both of those things are good news. The Pels need to surround Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and especially Zion Williamson with shooting. Nunnally was a sniper abroad, only having shot below 38 percent from three once in his career. In his last four seasons, Nunnally has shot 53 percent, 51 percent, 45 percent, and 51 percent from downtown.

As for the wings, the Pels only have Naji Marshall and Wes Iwundu available there right now. Josh Hart is out of action with a thumb injury, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker who can also feasibly play as a wing is injured with an ankle sprain. James Johnson has outperformed expectations but is more of a point forward if anything.

Marshall and Iwundu have done relatively well, particularly the former, but reinforcements are welcome. Nunnally has good size at 6-foot-7 and has some NBA experience, even if only mostly on 10-day contracts and Summer League experience.

When the UC Santa Barbara product signed with the Timberwolves in 2018, his comments then almost reflect the situations in New Orleans today. Nunnally explained that “need for outside shooting kind of [him and the Timberwolves] to each other,.” That’s definitely true in New Orleans.

Nunnally was also cognizant of his role, which seems like it will be similar for the Pels. Abroad, he “[guarded] the best players and basically [knocked] down the open shots.” That will be needed of him for the Pelicans.

If Nunnally can relieve some defensive responsibilities from the Pels’ best players and make his threes like we know he can do, then that’s already a win.