The New Orleans Pelicans broke a two-game losing skid with their 126-111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. This game was one of the best games the Pels have played this season, as they had seven players in double figures. While New Orleans saw a ton of different contributors, no one changed this game more than DeAndre Jordan.
Yes, you read that right, 37-year-old DeAndre Jordan, the same guy who has pretty much been an assistant coach for this team and has only played in two other games this season. DJ had six points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks in the win, and I promise you, if you missed this one, you have to watch the highlights.
Interim head coach James Borrego and his staff deserve a ton of credit for putting together an unorthodox starting five featuring Jordan, Derik Queen, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, and Zion Williamson. It was a smart example of situational coaching, but it also highlighted something the Pelicans’ front office needs to consider long-term—this team looks better with Derik Queen at the four than at the five.
Jordan won't be the answer forever
Sure, DJ can play the role of a traditional center occasionally, but he's 37 and at the tail end of his career—he won't be someone this team can ask to start the rest of the season in that role. However, the impact of having a rebounding rim protector next to Queen on the game should be enough for the front office to explore adding a long-term traditional big man this summer.
Queen has enough to his game offensively to shoulder the load of a frontcourt on that side of the ball, with his playmaking, scoring, ability to initiate offense, and an outside shot he’s growing more comfortable taking, connecting on 66.7 percent of his threes over his last six games. Where he does lack is in his defensive positioning and awareness, rebounding instincts, strength, and size. All things that can be covered up by bringing in a true seven-footer.
As I mentioned, rebounding isn't one of Queen's strengths at this point in his career, which is part of the reason the Pelicans give up the fifth-most rebounds per game. As with Zion, who is already not a very engaged rebounder, it makes Queen's life that much harder. But against Philly, not only did Jordan's presence lead to him grabbing 15 rebounds, but it also led to Queen pulling down nine boards of his own.
The reason for this is that defenses couldn’t simply box out one big man—they had to account for two, which gave New Orleans an advantage the whole game.
This isn't to say Queen can never be a starting center in the NBA, but at this stage of his young career, his skill set is much better suited to the power forward position. If the goal is to maximize this roster and young players like Queen, the Pelicans' front office has to bring in a starting center who brings size, rim protection, and, most importantly, rebounding.