Why the Pelicans can make the play-in without Zion Williamson

The New Orleans Pelicans can add talent

The Pelicans will reportedly be buyers at the trade deadline, and while I doubt they’ll make a huge move, they have the assets and young players to add talent to their roster.

The starting lineup with Josh Hart and Herb Jones has mostly been very solid, but the Pelicans lack bench depth, as right now they only have Nickeil Alexander-Walker as a scorer and he is mired in a season-long shooting slump.

The Pelicans have Satoransky’s expiring deal, a load of draft picks, a $17 million trade exception and talent like Jaxson Hayes, which they could pile together to potentially add an impact player.

I suggested Jerami Grant from the Pistons as a possibility, but he since injured his thumb and is out for awhile, which put a damper on that idea.

But there are a number of players the Pels could pursue to add depth to their bench or to add another starter, pushing one of their current guys to the pine.

If New Orleans can add another impactful player (preferably a point guard or someone who can shoot) they have a chance to chase down the garbage teams in front of them and make the play-in this season even without Zion.

This should be the goal, as young players get better by playing in important games and the only way to do that is to win.