The Pelicans are now 0-4 in summer league play after falling 95-81 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. The Thunder sparked a second-half comeback by outscoring the Pelicans 34-23 in the third quarter. Despite suffering another loss, there was a huge bright spot for New Orleans in Trey Alexander.
Alexander had his best performance of the summer league last night, scoring 25 points on an efficient 7-for-13 from the field and 5-for-9 from three. He also pitched in 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
This type of complete game was something fans were waiting for from Alexander, as over his first two games, he had only totaled 5 points in 33 minutes. However, last night was different, mainly because Trey was the primary initiator on offense and remained in control for most of the game. He logged 25 minutes and showed out in them.
The 22-year-old outperformed both of his fellow two-way contract players, as Lester Quinones scored only 5 points on 1-for-8 shooting, and big man Hunter Dickinson contributed 8 points on 3-for-6 shooting.
While it appears Joe Dumars may have made a mistake by giving Dickinson and Quinones two-way contracts. No mistake was made with Alexander, as he made it clear he belongs with his performance against the Thunder. In the loss, he showcased his unreal shot-making ability with his success from beyond the arc. He also showed his ability to run and offense, as well as his freakish 6'10 "wingspan on the defensive end by generating multiple turnovers.
Trey Alexander can be insurance for the Pelicans at point guard
With New Orleans' history of overwhelming injuries over the past few seasons, depth is more important than ever. Having Alexander, the reigning G League Rookie of the Year, as your fifth-string point guard puts the Pelicans in a great place.
Since Alexander has tons of experience from playing in the G League last season, he could be called up early by the Pelicans if an injury occurs or if Jeremiah Fears isn't ready for NBA-level competition right away.
My tip for Alexander would be to continue working on his defense, as he already is a very polished guard offensively. And becoming a high-level defender would be an easy way to earn the trust of Pelicans head coach Willie Green.
If Trey Alexander builds off what was a successful year in the G League for him last season, he'll undoubtedly be part of either the Pelicans or another team's long-term plans by the end of the 2025-26 season.