The New Orleans Pelicans’ roster for next season is almost set, with 14 players already under contract.
The more-distant future is not as clear, as the Pelicans have several options and extensions to make decisions on this offseason, some of which are easy, and some that aren’t so easy.
Most of the offseason is going to focus on the NBA Draft, as the Pelicans have a top-10 pick coming that they could use to keep adding young talent to the pipeline or to try and trade for a reliable veteran.
They also have a guard problem with three undersized players in Devonte’ Graham, Jose Alvarado and Kira Lewis Jr., as there will not be minutes for all of them.
The New Orleans Pelicans will have a clearer understanding of what their needs are post-draft, and here are the guys whose fate in the Crescent City will have to be decided.
Let’s start with the easy ones.
New Orleans Pelicans: Offseason decisions
The No Brainers
Tony Snell (Unrestricted free agent)
Veteran Tony Snell, who came over in the CJ McCollum deal, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
I am sure he’ll get a job at the end of someone’s bench eventually, but it won’t be the Pelicans’, as Snell couldn’t crack the rotation and wasn’t impressive when he did play.
I’ve often said that Snell’s nickname should be “The Invisible Man,” as he is one of the only players I’ve ever seen play 30+ minutes without scratching the scorecard.
Fare thee well, Mr. Snell.
Zion Williamson (Rookie extension)
Zion Williamson’s extension was certainly complicated by his injury-plagued season, and will likely cause the Pels to try and work in some team options and incentive-based bonuses. It’s possible that they will make a 4+1 (team option) offer for Zion to see if they can get him on a max that doesn’t have a fully guaranteed five seasons. It’s far more likely that they have to give him the max and they should, as he is still just 21-years-old and has superstar potential.
The Pelicans may be a Zion away from contending, so he isn’t going anywhere. I do think he’ll have to settle for some amount of compromise, but he’ll get the max.
New Orleans Pelicans: Offseason decisions
Tough Call #1
Jaxson Hayes (Rookie extension)
I’ve gone back and forth on Hayes about ten times this season, as he sometimes looks like he is figuring it out, but almost always regresses soon after.
He was pretty much unplayable in the playoffs, which may not always be the case, but as of now Hayes is still a weak defender and doesn’t offer much on offense other than dunks.
He’ll be looking for a fat extension, and definitely has the potential to outplay a deal in the 4 years/$40 million range, but for a team that is soon to be very expensive, a player like Hayes might be a luxury they can’t afford.
He is also a decent trade asset, as the Pelicans could potentially package him in a trade to a rebuilding team that wanted to take a flyer on a high-ceiling talent. The Pels could decline to extend him and force him to play out next season, but then he’d be a restricted free agent.
They could also just offer him the QO (just over $9 million) which would make him an unrestricted free agent after the 2023-24 season.
Is Hayes too much of a head case to invest heavily in? Should the Pels move him now while he still has some value? This is going to be a big one, as giving Hayes too big a salary may end up hamstringing the Pelicans for years to come if he never pans out.
New Orleans Pelicans: Offseason decisions
Tough Call #2
Kira Lewis Jr. (Team option)
The Pelicans will have to make a decision on the $5.7 million team option they have for Kira Lewis Jr. for the 2023-24 season.
They already exercised his option for next season, as options have to be decided a year in advance. Lewis Jr. may have become redundant after the rise of Jose Alvarado, who does many of the same things.
I’m sure the Pelicans would rather jettison Devonte’ Graham and keep both Lewis Jr. and Alvarado as a young and quick backcourt that can defend on the ball.
But Graham will be hard to move without an asset attached, so Kira Lewis Jr. may end up being the odd man out even though he has a higher ceiling.
Lewis Jr.’s $5.7 million option is a lot of scratch for a guy who has barely played and hasn’t yet shown he can be a reliable part of the rotation, so it’s possible the Pels will decline the option, let him play out this season and go from there.
New Orleans would hate to get nothing from a lottery pick, so will give Kira a chance next season, but he may have to play it out before he gets any more guaranteed money.