New Orleans Pelicans: Didi Louzada has skills the Pelicans need

Brazilian swingman and former Sydney Kings wing Didi Louzada has joined the New Orleans Pelicans on a multi-year deal.

The signing comes at a perfect time. New Orleans’ wing rotation is depleted without Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Their current backup options have served them well but lack a shooting presence desperately needed by New Orleans.

Two-way wings are recurring issues stemming from the Demps era. While Brandon Ingram is an upgrade over any New Orleans wing from the ‘Pelicans’ era, his defense will most likely never be elite or strong enough to guard the best player on an opposing team. With an eye on the future, David Griffin brought Louzada over at the perfect time.

The New Orleans Pelicans sit on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention. If this were to happen, the coaching will have a chance to watch Didi in an NBA environment and project what his role could look like. As his debut gets closer and closer, here is more on Didi Louzada:

New Orleans Pelicans: What can Pels expect from Didi Louzada?

Before the 2019 NBA Draft, Didi spent his time with Brazilian club Franca. The former champions have welcomed talent such as Leandro Barbosa and Rafael Araujo, proving to be an excellent starting point for young, ambitious basketball talent. The exposure landed him an opportunity to represent the World Select Team at the 2019 Nike Hoop Summit. Having impressed there, Louzada entered the draft and was selected 35th by Atlanta before swiftly being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.

An obvious draft-and-stash candidate, Didi went down under to play with the Sydney Kings, one of Australia’s premier franchises, as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program. For those not familiar, the program was created to attract NBA prospects to the NBL and was pivotal in LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton signing in Australia.

Over his two seasons in Sydney, Louzada exposed himself to extremely high-quality basketball and well-versed veterans. Didi started on the finals-losing team in his rookie season, which featured NBA veteran Andrew Bogut along with Jae’Sean Tate and Casper Ware. The invaluable experience and tutelage are understated. Along with the immense supporting cast, Didi’s coach, Will Weaver, was an experienced NBA assistant and former NBA G League Coach of the Year, who now assists Stephen Silas in Houston.

His second season saw his head coach and critical rotation players depart, only personifying Didi’s importance on the Kings. In a Covid-19 hampered season, Didi was able to play 20 more games for Sydney before finalizing his deal to join New Orleans.

There is no doubt Didi’s size and stature mimic one of an NBA rotation player. Listed at six-foot-five inches and 185 pounds, Didi’s physical profile is similar to Lonzo Ball‘s. Throughout his time in Australia, Louzada showcased a defensive acumen. Although the NBL is not known for its athleticism, most players are extremely smart and hard-nosed.

The tough nature of the NBL shines through the coaches as well. Although seen as a prime place to develop prospects, coaches do have a short leash with all players and hold them highly accountable. As such, Weaver and Forde’s (the Sydney Kings’ current head coach) trust in allowing Didi to guard the best player night in and night out speak volumes to the prowess he displayed.

Louzada has swift hands and feet. His one turnover per 36 minutes may not jump off the screen, but the Kings operate in a scheme that minimizes risks and gambles. His agility and awareness are seen through his ability to navigate screens. You rarely see Didi sticking to screeners as he constantly fights over screens, forcing ball handlers into the paint.

As well, Didi’s IQ is continuously growing. He has always had a good feel for the game, but his timings are starting to improve exponentially. In the clip below, you can regularly see Didi making the correct rotations and switches.

New Orleans Pelicans: Didi Louzada fits Stan Van Gundy’s scheme

Understanding the game on the defensive end will help him in Van Gundy’s scheme. As we all know, Stan is a stickler for defense and is enamoured with versatile players. The tools and understanding alone will help Didi fight for minutes and quickly replace the minutes Iwundu plays.

Offensively, Didi has many steps to take. In particular, his shooting is in desperate need of consistency and rejigging if he wants to stick in the NBA. A career 29 percent three-point shooter and 61 percent free throw shooter for the Kings, Didi’s fundamentals need improvements. His slow-release mixed with poor foot positioning make him an inconsistent shooter.

However, his high release and excellent elbow position suggest the changes needed are only minor. Fred Vinson has worked wonders with Ball, Ingram, and Williamson, so I have slight hopes that Louzada will become a consistent shooter.

Throughout his time in Australia, Didi has been a flamethrower. When he is on, nothing is stopping him. It was only a week ago where he scorched SEM Phoenix, a team with elite defenders, going 6-of-7 from three.

Despite his porous or irregular shooting, Didi is an excellent cutter. Capable of finishing ambidextrously, Didi has a great sense of when defenders are over-playing him. In addition, he is hyperactive on offense and creates natural gravity for his defender as he constantly moves without the ball.

Both traits are necessary for the  New Orleans Pelicans. Too often, Pelicans players are stagnant, solely watching Williamson and Ingram work. The static nature of the offense makes it extremely easy to help. With Didi in the mix, players will eventually learn that they have to guard him as he loves to cut back door and finish through contact.

Didi is a work-in-progress offensively. Along with his shooting, his handle must improve. His left hand falters him too often, resulting in having to settle for tough jump shots or slowing down in transition. In the NBA environment, many competent defenders will reap the rewards of his poor handling.

Overall, Didi’s arrival in Louisiana is timed perfectly. The Pelicans are in dire need of wing depth, and the promise he has shown in Australia suggests he can be a rotation player starting day one. Early on, he will have to earn his minutes the hard way, but there is no doubt in my mind by next season, Didi will crack the rotation as an energy wing (a lite version of Josh Hart). The teams’ eye will be on next season, but Didi can impact the team from the start.