The Pelicans made a splash at the start of the NBA free agency last night by using their cap space on two widely respected veterans at positions of need.
The team started the night by securing New Orleans’ best shooter since Peja Stojakovic, guard JJ Reddick. Reddick joins New Orleans on a two-year contract and Locked on Pelicans Publisher Jake Madison says he’s exactly what the young team needed.
“He’s a veteran presence and also a very good locker room influence, but the three-point shooting that he brings to the three-point shooting that he brings to the team is also really important. They do want to put shooters around Zion Williamson.”
The 35-year-old averaged 18 points a game last year and is a career 41 percent 3 point shooter.
The pels also traded two second round picks to Utah for 28-year-old Center Derrick Favors, who is on the last year of his contract. Madison says Favors is a tough interior defender and rebounder, but best of all…
“By all accounts a tremendous locker room presence, just hear the outpouring of well wishes from the Utah Jazz players right now, talking about how influential he was to the team.”
The 28-year-old averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds last year and is a highly rated defender according to several advanced statistics.
Those moves mark the likely end of the Pels’ wheeling and dealing that’s completely reshaped the roster over the summer. Madison says New Orleans now has a fast paced, defensively stout starting lineup, with some firepower off the bench…
“I think you see Jrue Holliday, Lonzo Ball, JJ Reddick, Zion Williamson, and Derrick Favors starting next year, and I think you bring Brandon Ingram off the bench.”
The team also signed Italian forward Nicolo Melli to a two year, 8 million dollar deal.
