2 Problematic truths about Pelicans center rotation exposed in preseason

The New Orleans Pelicans entered the preseason with a lot of questions surrounding their team. They may have had an extremely short preseason with one of their games getting canceled due to Hurricane Milton and the Pelicans wrapping up play three days before the official end of preseason, but New Orleans was able to answer some of the pressing concerns surrounding the franchise.

For example, Jordan Hawkins took full advantage of his opportunities and assured Head Coach Willie Green and fans that he could be a reliable member of the rotation next season by putting up 16.3 points in just over 18 minutes per game through three outings. He did so on spectacular efficiency, having shot 50 percent from the field, 43 percent from deep, and 93 percent from the stripe. He showcased a tighter handle and seemed much more confident attacking from midrange and at the cup, racking up nearly five attempts from the free-throw line per game.

But, preseason wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for the Pelicans. Brandon Ingram played in just the last game against the Houston Rockets and looked hell-bent on sticking to his old habits, like monopolizing the offense and jacking up contested middies. Those looking to find reasons for comfort with the New Orleans Pelicans center rotation in preseason should also be sorely disappointed.

Preseason revealed some major causes for concern regarding the Pelicans center rotation

1. Daniel Theis is clearly not a full-time starting center

Going into the offseason, the Pelicans had a major hole in their roster after Jonas Valanciunas left in free agency and the team traded away Larry Nance Jr. as part of the package to acquire Dejounte Murray. New Orleans was left without a single center. Their solution was to sign Daniel Theis, a 33-year-old career backup journeyman who has suffered multiple career-threatening injuries.

Theis showed encouraging signs in his Summer Olympics run with the national team, proving that he was healthy once again and could contribute to high-stakes basketball. Unfortunately, he hasn't suddenly become a starting-level center in the twilight of his career and that was made clear in preseason.

He's a well-rounded veteran who has the savvy and experience to be a solid rotation player. In his advanced age and after multiple injuries, though, he just doesn't have the quickness of verticality to be a reliable anchor anymore — not that he was really ever an elite rim protector at any point in his career. New Orleans will still need his size and veteran presence, but it's clear that Theis shouldn't be a big-minutes guy at this point in his career. Considering that he might be the Pelicans de facto starter on many nights, this team needs another solution at center and quick.

2. The Pelicans might need Yves Missi more than they initially anticipated

While Theis underwhelmed in his opportunities in preseason, Yves Missi was one of the standouts for the Pelicans. He took full advantage of the time allotted to him to showcase his athleticism and instincts, jumping out of the gym on both ends of the court constantly.

He not only proved to have great timing and intuition as a shot blocker, but he also showed to be more advanced on the offensive end of the court despite his relative lack of experience. Coach Willie Green had high praise for his first-round rookie:

"(Yves Missi) is a huge bright spot for us. Yves was incredible, especially when we put him in with that starting group. He just opens the floor with his rim pressure. He's a lob threat. He's doing a great job of picking up all of our concepts pretty quickly,"

While it's extremely encouraging to see that Missi is coming along quickly, it does also raise concerns, especially when coupled with Theis's subpar performances so far. With the Pelicans hoping to be real contenders this season, any contribution they get from a 21st-overall pick should be gravy, icing on the cake, a cherry on top. Instead, it seems like New Orleans will need him to be a consistent source of production from day one. That's a lot of pressure to put on one of the youngest players in the class and someone relatively new to the game of basketball. With the Pelicans' current center rotation, they might not have any other option but to rely on Missi to be a breakout freshman.