New Orleans Off-Season: Part III - The Finale

[Sun Scorched]

New Orleans Off-Season: Part III - The Finale



The New Orleans Pelicans set out with several goals this off-season:

1. Be a leading FG% team (check - #3 in the league)
2. Be a leading rebounding team (check - #4 in the league)
3. Make the playoffs (pending)
4. Retain maximum cap space for next off-season (check)

With what is likely to be the final move of the Pelican’s relatively young season, New Orleans’ GM completed the off-season vision for this young Pelicans squad by sending Dwayne Wade, Mason Plumlee and Rudy Gobert out in exchange for Roy Hibbert and David West – a move designed to shore up their front court rotation while maintaining cap flexibility.



Before Trade
PG – Cotton / Machado
SG – Williams / McRae
SF – White / Robinson
PF – Davis / Wright
C – Jordan / Gobert

After Trade
PG – Cotton / Miller
SG – McRae / Williams
SF – White / Robinson
PF – Davis / West
C – Jordan / Hibbert

Per Sun Scorched:

Roy [Hibbert] adds an incredible dynamic to our front court rotation. We expect that DeAndre and Roy will combine to create the most prolific center rotation in the league. Our off-season theory about frontcourt strength has so far proven true. Roy brings an incredible defensive, rebounding and shot-blocking presence to our team. I expect our field goal and rebounding percentage to increase even further with Roy's acquisition.

In addition to the recently acquired Hibbert and West bring injected into the rotation, word is that McRae and Williams may swap places, with the young 3&D guard getting some burn alongside the starting unit with Williams transitioning to the role of terror off the bench.

But why max cap space for next off-season? For that let’s turn to Pelicans GM Sun Scorched:

We have very specific designs for this team. Anthony [Davis} is obviously a large part of that. Obviously, Anthony will be getting the full five year maximum contract, but before he signs on the dotted line, we will have the opportunity to offer another full maximum contract. Players like Kevin Durant and LeBron James will have the opportunity to analyze opportunities with other basketball clubs – one of those opportunities will be with the New Orleans Pelicans.

[NanashiWake]

Looking forward to compete with you on that free-agent market. Anthony Davis is going to want that max as well, should be an entertaining ride. Lol

[Marcos_Beck]

Adding LeBron or Durant could be deadly..
But first please address the 3pt shooting thing.. 338% for the season will never win you any rings, and you have the pieces to improve.
Right now this is a very strong regular season team but a very beatable one once you get to the playoffs. Put that zone D way up and just watch the Pelicans brick shot after shot.
Have you ever thought about starting GRIII? He can flat out shoot!
I like the addition of McRae to the starting unit but his shooting is not enough. Once you improve that, sky is the limit! I believe NOP can be a top team and win rings for years to come!

[Rizzo]

The defense on this team is definitely scary but I feel like outside of Williams and Davis the scoring is limited. Hopefully they can play their games under 100 points.

[Dennis]

Yeah thats an all defensive team.. White, Cotton, Davis and DeAndre should be in the mix for DPOY.. Like Adam said they miss someone who is able to score off the bench. I could see them trading McRae or a pick. A guy like RJ Hunter or Aaron Afflalo could be the missing piece.
Its pretty crazy/scare how good they are, given they play 4 sophomores in their rotation (GRIII, McRae, Okaro and Cotton).

[bt]

Very good team and with a max contract slot next season, just dangerous. They did however luck out last draft with Cotton and White and picks 14 and 22. Never ever will value that like be achieved that late.

[Sun Scorched]

Very good team and with a max contract slot next season, just dangerous. They did however luck out last draft with Cotton and White and picks 14 and 22. Never ever will value that like be achieved that late.

Yeah - I love Cotton and White, but they aren't what makes this team click.

We had a goal this offseason - one actually developed watching the Pistons last season - that said we only want to be good at two things - rebounding and FG%. We'll let the rest take care of itself. Our success at this point is due entirely to Davis, Jordan, to a lesser extent Wright and now Hibbert.

The only other thing I'm frustrated with is our lack of 3pt shooting. You can say what you will about White, but his lack of a 3pt shot (or, for that matter, scoring in any way) really limits this team. It's part of the reason I moved Wade. No way I could started three non-shooters in my backcourt, would just get zoned to death (and have).

White may actually get benched here soon in favor of Robinson, as he is the best 3pt shooter on my team and I need to spread the floor a bit better. I didn't make the worst 3pt% teams in my Top 5 / Bottom 5 article because I was #25.... which is obviously nothing to be proud of.

And you can ask about half the teams in this league - I've been committed to finding a 3pt shooter (even considering the detriment that player would prove on the defensive end) to no avail. Shooters in this league, and unless this changes in the next draft, are few and far between and are like gold, value-wise. Or at least that's been my experience.

[blackice]

I didn't think about it but after looking around you're right - it's harder to add shooters without giving up something (usually the tradeoff is defense). With your 3 bigs I'd look to pound it inside (single/double post) and just grind out wins (think present day MEM). If you can get a guard that can spread the floor that would be great but the tradeoff (playmaking/rebound/defense) might mean you're better off with what you've got.

A guy like Waiters would be a great fit but I don't know what the associated cost would be.