Surprise, disappointment or on track? Category for each player on the Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans, surprise, disappointment or on tack? Role players
Kira Lewis Jr.- On track
Some might be disappointed but he is still a 20-year-old point guard trying to learn how to play the game. He hasn’t been great but there have been positive signs. I don’t think he was the right draft choice, but am not dissatisfied with his development so far.
Willy Hernangomez- Surprise!
Willy has been very good as the backup this season and continues to put up decent numbers while not taking anything off the table. I honestly didn’t think he’d play much this season, but he has seized the backup role and now looks like a solid NBA rotational big.
Trey Murphy III- Disappointment
This is probably unfair given that he was the 17th pick, but I did think Murphy III would thrive in New Orleans as a bench shooter. He hasn’t played many meaningful minutes after being great in preseason and just got demoted to the G-League. I didn’t expect him to be an All-Star as a rookie but I thought he’d be an upgrade on the bench.
He has shot the ball decently, but hasn’t done anything else.
Josh Hart- On track
After a hot start shooting the ball, Josh Hart has regressed to his 32 percent shooting from long range. He’s been battling injuries and has been very good at times, but is still very inconsistent. I was hoping he’d shoot a higher percentage but he’s played with heart and been a vocal leader.
Jaxson Hayes- Disappointment
Hayes has probably been the most disappointing Pelican so far, as he has barely played, been awful when he has and just got demoted to the G-League in his third season, one in which he was meant to be a major part of the rotation.
Related Story. How Jaxson Hayes responds to G-League demotion will be telling. light
I don’t know how much he’s been affected by his offseason problems, but he does not look like the same guy who finished last season strong and is starting to look more like a draft bust every day.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker- Disappointment
Another of the third-year guys who has not stepped up, NAW has regressed in season three and his shooting numbers are alarming. He can’t make a 3-point shot, but even worse, he’s shooting less than 50 percent at the rim, which is not a good sign for a guy who is supposed to be a finisher.
Is he going to realize his immense talent? We’ll have to wait and see but for now it’s not been a good start for NAW.