Pelicans: 4 possible scenarios for the Pels’ backcourt next season
The New Orleans Pelicans are going to have some tough decisions to make this offseason when it comes to their backcourt.
None looms larger than the contract of Lonzo Ball, which will be the biggest decision for David Griffin in his tenure as VP of Basketball Operations and one that could eventually define his career with the Pelicans.
Eric Bledsoe is still under contract, and though he has had some big games, he has been inconsistent overall and doesn’t look to be a good fit with Zion Williamson.
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The Pels also have two up and coming guards in Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis Jr., who have both played well in the second half, though NAW has been stung with some late-season injuries.
He was playing the best basketball of his career before getting hurt and looks like a guy the Pelicans can build around.
So what will the Pelicans’ backcourt look like next season? Here are four possible scenarios.
New Orleans Pelicans: Sign Lonzo Ball, trade Eric Bledsoe
One option the Pelicans have is to re-sign Lonzo Ball to an extension and trade Eric Bledsoe.
Trading Bledsoe could be tricky, as he is still owed a fair amount of money, so the Pels will likely have to attach an asset or take back a longer contract.
Depending on what they got back for Bledsoe, the Pels’ starting backcourt would be Lonzo Ball and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, which is what most fans want at this point.
Kira Lewis Jr. would be the first guard off the bench, adding a change-of-pace scoring element and the Pels would roll with NAW and Lonzo as the starters.
This would give the Pels a dynamic defensive backcourt with two big guards who can both defend multiple spots. NAW becomes the 3rd or 4th scoring option that the Pels currently lack, and they have a young starting five that is athletic and versatile.