On the way to the next season, it feels like a few things are concrete for the New Orleans -Pelikans. First of all, we know that Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, Trey Murphy and Herb Jones are starting, and Kevon Looney will probably finish the start five. We also know that to start next season, both Dejounde Murray and Derik Queen will probably not be available.
Well, we know about what the second unit of the pelicans will look like. We do not have a clear picture of who that group will lead to start next season. It is clear that the goal if it should be healthy to have Poole as the sixth man, because that is a role that he shone during his career. However, that does not help at the start of the coming campaign, because New Orleans does not really have a good spark plug from the bank.
This is somewhat problematic because it is unclear whether the pelicans have someone they can go if a starter is struggling. Each team needs that guy from the bank who can help end games and influence winning. Some of the potential candidates for this role are Jordan Hawkins, Jose Alvarado, Saddiq Bey and Jeremiah fears. Before I keep cleaning up something, the only reason is why Yves Missi is not mentioned, because it is expected that he and Looney will start to split minutes in early minutes.
Who’s going to take that step
From all the candidates to break out, there are two above the rest: Jose Alvarado and Jordan Hawkins. That is not a shadow for Bey or fears, but I don’t expect Bey to have the ball in his hands enough to be such a big difference. And from fears we have seen that Willie Green was more reluctant to play young boys so that that trend could continue.
I have the feeling that from the entire Pelican Bank, Hawkins and Alvarado have the most to prove. The Pelicans have drawn up a guard this summer and exchanged in the back-to-back year. Jose has put a lot of pressure on his career year last season, because it is clear that Joe Dumars is ready to look at Point Guard in other directions.
Hawkins starts his third season, and although we have seen flashes, there is nothing outside of his university numbers to prove that he can be a knockdown -shooter at NBA level. This lack of a breakout brings him on the way to this season.
Both boys also have the ball trade skills to be offensive initiators and can carry out an attack. Hawkins’ three-point shooting skills and size that comes from the bank can be connected to any line-up and would make the pelicans dangerous. However, I feel that it is much more likely that Alvarado plays the sixth man role than Hawkins, because I have not seen enough to expect a breakout year.
Whether it is one of these two or someone else, the Pelicans need a consistent option from the bank if they will be successful this season.
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