Pelicans point of concern could turn out to be an unexpected strength

There's been a lot of scrutiny surrounding the New Orleans Pelicans roster. Despite their glut of top-end talent — with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and, now Dejounte Murray — not many analysts believe in their title chances, mainly due to their glaring roster holes.

The most discussed point of contention has been the Pelicans' center rotation, featuring Daniel Theis and Yves Missi. Neither of those players is a surefire starter which leaves New Orleans with a massive hole in the middle. While it's a valid concern, it's been retreaded so much that it's become overstated.

Another Pelicans' roster critique might become obsolete soon. New Orleans came into the 2024-25 NBA season with an indisputably solid top seven, led by their four stars and complemented by Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, and Jose Alvarado. Outside of that core group, though, their depth was extremely questionable. But, through their first few games, the Pelicans' bench hasn't just looked acceptable, but it might turn out to be a legitimate strength for this roster.

The Pelicans' bench could turn out to be a major strength

It's not everybody wrote off the Pelicans' bench or believed it didn't have any potential; it's just that New Orleans was relying on a handful of players that didn't inspire much confidence.

Javonte Green had some solid showings for the Chicago Bulls but nearly fell out of the league due to injuries. He only appeared in 41 NBA games in the last two seasons, so it was difficult to predict what New Orleans would be getting from him. So far, he's been a perfect replacement for Naji Marshall, bringing tough-nosed versatile defense, complementary offensive skills, and limitless energy every time he steps on the court.

Another piece that was tricky to gauge was Jordan Hawkins. The former University of Connecticut Husky had some truly explosive and promising individual scoring performances, but he also finished the year shooting just 38 percent from the field and had some real weaknesses in his game, including finishing at the rim, ball-handling, shot selection, and defensive consistency. It's a small sample size, but he's been determined to address all of those concerns in his sophomore year, playing solid defense, getting to his spots with a tighter handle, and cashing in on his scoring opportunities with confidence.

Another standout for the Pelicans' bench has been Yves Missi, who's surpassed all expectations for a 20-year-old 21st-overall pick so far. He's levied a legitimate case to be the starting center, but his energy, relentless screening, vertical spacing, and shot blocking have made him an instant infusion of energy for the Pelicans on both ends of the court off of the bench.

With Green appearing to be a solid utility guy, Hawkins evolving his game to become a reliable two-way option, and Missi impressing early on, New Orleans suddenly has not just a solid bench but a spectacular one. Once Trey Murphy III returns from his hamstring injury, he'll exponentially raise the ceiling on an already dangerous unit. The Pelicans are liable to finish the season with a vastly different roster than they currently have, but this reserve platoon they have now could absolutely be one of the best benches in the NBA.