Pelicans: 3 things to watch in Summer League matchup vs. Thunder
New Orleans Pelicans: Is Naji Marshall ready to replace Josh Hart?
One thing was clear in the Pels’ first win over the Bulls, which was Naji Marshall probably doesn’t belong in Summer League.
He looked like a man among boys at times, and much more polished than most of his counterparts.
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He was communicating on defense (and from the bench), had some really nice takes on offense and in general looked like the type of hustling defender the Pels need.
The question is whether he is ready to assume a larger role, specifically the one that could be vacated by Josh Hart.
Hart and the Pelicans still haven’t settled anything as far as his restricted free agency, and the Pels could bring him back, let him walk entirely or try to orchestrate a sign-and-trade.
If Marshall can continue to show his improvement, it will make this decision a lot easier, as he and Hart have a lot of the same skills and Marshall actually shot a higher percentage from 3-point range, albeit on a low volume of attempts.