New Orleans Pelicans: 4 remaining free agents who would be fits in NOLA
The New Orleans Pelicans still have some cap space they can use and there are a number of NBA free agents remaining who might be fits.
The Pelicans will have to make a decision on Josh Hart, who they might re-sign or trade to use in a sign-and-trade for a guy like Buddy Hield.
The Pelicans could also make an offer on one of the unrestricted or restricted free agents and there are guys at different price points who might be good fits.
Related Story. How Willie Green will be different from Stan Van Gundy. light
The Pelicans could still go the high-priced route, grab a veteran or spread the space around on low-cost guys who might fill specific needs.
Let’s start with a couple of cheap options who probably won’t be signed until most of the free agent dust has settled around the league.
New Orleans Pelicans: NBA Free Agent Svi Mykhailiuk
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk could offer low-cost value on the wing for the New Orleans Pelicans. Mykhailiuk isn’t a well-known name (nor an easy one to spell) because he has spent his career so far on the Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder, two teams that are not very good.
Mykhailiuk is a 6-foot-7 wing who isn’t an explosive athlete or great defender, but he is a plus 3-point shooter who could be even better.
He has plus size on the wing and shot over 40 percent from 3-point range on 5.1 attempts per game in his best season with the Pistons.
He could give the Pels some extra shooting off the bench and will be budget-friendly. When you look at what some shooters are getting now, locking up a guy like Mykhailiuk on the cheap is not a bad strategy.
New Orleans Pelicans: NBA Free Agent Tyler Cook
Tyler Cook is another unrestricted free agent who the Pelicans could likely get for a minimum deal or even a G-League contract, so he is not a game changer but more of a longer-term development project.
He is the exact opposite of Mykhailiuk in that he is a very athletic high flyer who runs the floor and protects the rim but can’t shoot.
And when I say he can’t shoot, he really can’t shoot, like he doesn’t even attempt shots outside of five feet.
Cook has some upside as a rim runner and protector, which is something the Pelicans could potentially use. Cook hasn’t had a great Summer League so far, so he might be a candidate for the G-League to keep an eye on for the future.