HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported that the New Orleans Pelicans and Trey Alexander have agreed to a two-way deal. This is a somewhat exciting addition and takes up the Pelicans' 3rd two-way contract spot, alongside Hunter Dickinson and Lester Quinones.
Alexander is an exciting scoring guard who has the ability to impact winning right now at 22 years old. He is very versatile as he can play both on and off the ball. With the ball, he is capable of initiating the offense and can create shots for others and himself. Without the ball, he navigates screens well, and his feet are always moving.
He is an experienced guard, having spent three years playing for the Creighton Blue Jays. Alexander was one of the Big East's best guards, making the All-Big East team in his final year.
At 6’3” and 187lbs, Alexander appears as someone who would be a poor defender, however, his 6’10” wingspan allows him to make an impact defensively. This length helps him get in passing lanes and be disruptive on the defensive end despite being a thinner guard.
He thrived last season when playing for the Denver Nuggets' G League affiliate, posting averages of 25.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He did this all while shooting an impressive 46.2% from the field and 39.5% from three.
All he needs is a chance
Alexander has such a unique skill set and can fit into multiple roles as an on-ball and off-ball player. He’ll likely start his year in the G with Birmingham Squadron and have to prove that his year one stats down in the G League weren't fake. I wouldn’t be surprised if he shows promise early and gets called up quickly by the Pelicans, especially with the Pelicans' injury history and Dejounte Murray expected to miss a good chunk of the start of the season.
His experience and length are enough to get him a shot on the Pelicans' main roster. And I’m buying into his potential big time. If he can find his niche in the NBA, he could be a steal for the Pelicans. I’ll use Nickeil Alexander-Walker as an example. Prior to signing a massive $60+ million deal, he was a talented young guard like Trey, who didn’t yet know his role.
Then, when he got to the Timberwolves, he figured out what his niche was. He began using his length to become a real disruptor, while also working on developing into a knockdown corner three-point shooter. The next thing you know, he became one of the league's best three-and-D wings.
Even though Alexander is only 6’3”, his wingspan can make him a similar defender to Alexander-Walker. And if he keeps developing his three-point shooting, he can carve out a role like NAW did.
After winning the G League Rookie of the Year, the GM of the Grand Rapids Gold (Nuggets G League affiliate) praised him for his incredible work ethic. This is encouraging, and it's a huge reason why I believe in his long-term success at the NBA level.
Signing Trey Alexander with this group's final two-way contract was a good move. He’ll likely be joining the New Orleans Pelicans summer league team, which will be an exciting opportunity for fans and the front office to get a better look at what they are getting.