After tipping free agency with the thrilling signing that was DeAndre Jordan (sigh), Joe Dumars continues to sit on his hands and do nothing to improve the Pelicans' roster. The latest Luke Kennard, who agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Phoenix Suns.
Now, Kennard’s name as a potential target for the New Orleans shouldn’t be anything new, as for nearly a decade now, he has been one of the NBA’s most potent shooters. For a Pelicans team that is always in need of more spacing to help open things up for Zion Williamson as a driver, many fans have long felt that Kennard could be a seamless fit. His ability to shoot the three-ball at a high clip off the catch, in transition, and in the corner are all things that, on paper, should attract Dumars and the Pelicans.
Not to mention the minor breakout he had as a self-creator and playmaker when Luka Doncic went down towards the end of the Lakers' regular season. But on top of all of that, what bothers me the most about the Pelicans missing out on Kennard is the price point he signed for, as in no world could New Orleans not have matched this offer.
Joe Dumars is not a man of change
This past season, the Pelicans finished 11th in the Western Conference and won 26 games—the year before, they won 21. So what’s going to make running things back for a third year without addressing the unbelievably obvious needs for more three-point shooting and size any different? Nothing. Dumars continues to preach this message of hope, suggesting this team will be competing out West with this roster next season, and it’s honestly laughable.
I’m not saying Kennard would’ve been the savior or even helped New Orleans become this elite three-point shooting team on his own next season. But he would’ve been a positive real addition fans could look at and go, “Hey, I see the vision here,” or “Hey, Joe (Dumars) is trying to address a major need for shooting.”
Instead, he opened free agency by using one of two open roster spots to resign 37-year-old DeAndre Jordan, who played 12 games last season.
Kennard ranks second all-time in three-point percentage behind only Steve Kerr. That talent as a career 44.2 percent three-point shooter at $6.5 million annually is ridiculous value. I even understand that, given the Pelicans current state, it may cost slightly more to sign a player of that caliber, maybe more like $8 million. Even then, you sign him 100 percent of the time because he helps address this team's biggest flaw.
Instead, fans will likely be waiting around for days until Dumars finally makes a move and signs some veteran no other team is interested in to a vet minimum.
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