The New Orleans Pelicans are having a relatively quiet offseason so far and that is a good thing, as it means they finally have some stability.
They will head into next season with a loaded roster that should be ready to compete for a high seed in the Western Conference at full strength with the return of Zion Williamson.
We talked about why October will be a huge month for the Pels, but July is important too as it not only marks the beginning of free agency but also the start of Summer League.
Summer League is traditionally a time of wild hyperbole and projection, as players like Naji Marshall look like All-Stars before promptly returning to planet Earth when the season starts.
The Pelicans will be trying out a range of players, looking for the next Jose Alvarado, a guy who can come from nowhere to actually make the G-League or even full-time roster.
In addition to those players, the Pels will roll out a lineup of guys who will be battling for minutes in the rotation next season, which should lead to a fun Summer League roster that is poised to dominate.
New Orleans Pelicans: The Summer League roster is going to be fun
According to the Rookie Wire, here are the players the Pelicans have on their Summer League roster so far:
- Izaiah Brockington, Iowa State
- Karlo Matkovic, KK Mega Basket
- John Petty Jr., Birmingham Squadron (NBA G League)
- Daeqwon Plowden, Bowling Green
- Dereon Seabron, N.C. State
- Amadou Sow, UC Santa Barbara
Karlo Matkovic is the big name here, as he was actually drafted by the Pelicans, but Dereon Seabron is another name to watch out for, as he is a high-ceiling talent who has the kind of motor and determination the Pels are looking for.
In addition to those guys, the Pelicans will likely run out a starting five that looks something like this:
- Jose Alvarado
- Dyson Daniels
- Trey Murphy III
- Naji Marshall
- EJ Liddell
I feel sorry for the players on the opposing teams, as Alvarado, Daniels, TMIII and Naji are going to be terrorizing offenses on the perimeter.
When you add in EJ Liddell, you have four guys who can all switch onto just about anyone, so it should be fun to watch these guys put the clamps on the other team’s young guys.
Alvarado and Murphy III already have playoff experience, so should be able to dominate, along with Summer League veteran Naji Marshall.
It will be interesting to see if Liddell can handle centers, as he is undersized for the position but has an enormous wingspan to make up for it.
You also have three guys who are good playmakers, and one very good shooter in Murphy III, so they should be able to create offense in the half court, as well as in transition.
This will be a really fun team to watch, and I have a feeling that Summer League hype is going to be at an all-time high after the Pelicans dominate.