There’s one name that fans didn’t get to see on the New Orleans Pelicans’ summer league roster: Josh Oduro. The 25-year-old forward has spent some time over the last couple of years with the Pelicans G League team, was on a two-way deal last season, and logged three regular-season games at the tail end of last year. I’m not sure why he has yet to log a minute in Las Vegas. However, that shouldn’t stop him from earning a contract with the Pelicans.
One of the names I previously suggested the Pelicans should pursue with a two-way spot was Melvin Council Jr., but I’m not sure how realistic that is. His stats aren’t eye-catching, and he doesn’t play a position of need. Similar case for Kobe Bufkin, who also is a name to watch as a two-way player with New Orleans, but might get the short end of the stick because he’s a guard.
Oduro, on the other hand, is an interior force who can add physicality to the frontcourt. and would definitely help the Pelicans attack on the glass and at the rim. He isn’t a flashy player, but his familiarity with the organization and NBA readiness make him Joe Dumars' strongest two-way option from their summer league roster.
Why Josh Oduro deserves a closer look from the Pelicans
Across the three games Oduro played for the Pelicans at the end of last season, he averaged 8.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 64.7 percent from the field. His best game came against the Boston Celtics, where he scored 12 points, pulled in 12 rebounds, and finished as a team-high plus-six. Half of his 12 boards came on the offensive glass, as all night he crashed and dove to the rim with purpose, outworking the Celtics frontcourt.
He plays with a massive chip on his shoulder and brings that blue-collar hard-worker style of play to the court every time he steps on the floor, and that’s nothing new. Dating back to his years at George Mason and his lone season at Providence, Oduro always had to play that way because he was an undersized 6-foot-9 center.
But his hustle-first, gritty style shouldn’t overshadow his skill. Oduro can put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. Oduro has excellent footwork and awareness in the post, using a loaded arsenal of drop steps and spins to great clean looks for himself at the rim. Defensively, he’s a strong weakside help defender who can act as a captain on that end, communicating and holding his own on the perimeter.
I understand the last thing it feels like the Pelicans need is another back-to-the-basket big man who’s undersized. The difference is that Oduro brings two things the New Orleans frontcourt doesn’t have much of, outside of Yves Missi, which are elite rebounding and high energy.
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