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New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball will be a restricted free agent in the upcoming 2021 NBA off-season. Free agency begins on August 2, and from then on, Lonzo Ball will have the opportunity to see what the market believes is his current value.
Of course, as Lonzo Ball is a restricted free agent, the New Orleans Pelicans have the option of matching any offer for the four-year guard and keep him in their roster. But what if he signs a contract from another team that the Pelicans don’t want to match because they don’t value Ball as much?
Then the search for his replacement will begin, and the New Orleans Pelicans will have to look into several potential candidates either via the trade route or in free agency.
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What type of player New Orleans Pelicans will look for if Lonzo Ball leaves?
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The New Orleans Pelicans need more spacing and shooting on the floor for superstar forward Zion Williamson to do his work in the paint. They experimented with the sophomore forward at point during the 2020-21 season, but it was moderately successful at best because of their lack of shooting on the floor.
Last season, they were 27th in the league in 3-pointers made (10.6) and 26th in 3-point percentage (34.8). So they need someone who can complement Williamson’s strengths, one who can drain 3-point shots when Williamson is double-teamed.
On that note, here are five players the New Orleans Pelicans should target if Lonzo Ball leaves in free agency:
#5 Tim Hardaway Jr.
Tim Hardaway Jr. could play one of the backcourt positions for the New Orleans Pelicans if the new coach, whoever that might be, decides to implement Point Zion full time for the 2020-21 season.
Hardaway is the type of versatile guard who fits in the modern NBA and is an excellent 3-point shooter. He averaged 16.6 points and shot 39.1% from the 3-point territory during the regular season. He upped those stats to 17 points and 40.4% 3-point shooting in the postseason. Hardaway also made 207 threes in 2020-21, which was eighth-most in the regular season.
If the New Orleans Pelicans look for a replacement for Lonzo Ball, Hardaway would be an excellent option.
#4 Derrick Rose
It’s unclear what the future holds for the former MVP, but Derrick Rose would be a terrific point guard and take Ball’s spot in the starting lineup. Rose is an improved 3-point shooter (38.8%) and a big-time clutch player who could teach benefit the young stars in the team.
In the 2021 NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks, Rose increased his scoring average from 14.7 points a night to 19.4 and shot 47.1% from beyond the arc. He also dished out five assists per game and stabilized the New York Knicks’ offense whenever he was on the floor.
A free agent in the off-season, Rose may want to play for a team that he could mentor and help lead into the postseason next year.
#3 Kyle Lowry
It’s unclear how many more quality years Kyle Lowry has. But the 15-year veteran was one of the most sought-after point guards at the trade deadline and one the New Orleans Pelicans could pursue.
The Toronto Raptors guard is a winner, and his ability to be a difference-maker at point was sorely missed in the postseason by a couple of teams that passed up a trade for him. Two such teams were the LA Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers.
This season, Lowry has averaged 17.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Moreover, he has made 39.6% of his 3-point attempts. If the New Orleans Pelicans sign him in the off-season, he will give Williamson and one-time All-Star Brandon Ingram the space they need in the paint; he could also find the duo for wide-open shots.
#2 Buddy Hield
One shooter whom the New Orleans Pelicans should absolutely pursue is Buddy Hield. The Sacramento Kings guard has the shooting touch the Pelicans covet. He is the kind of player who could create space for Williamson and Ingram, sucking defenses away from the paint.
Hield is a career 40.6% 3-point shooter, and he made 39.1% of his three-pointers during the 2020-21 season. He was third in the league, making four 3-pointers per game and was second only to Stephen Curry in 3-pointers made, with 282.
It would probably take a lot of negotiating sessions with the Kings for the New Orleans Pelicans to acquire Hield, as he still has three years left on a four-year contract extension worth $86 million. But it would be an investment worth their effort.
#1 Reggie Jackson
Playing in the 2021 NBA Playoffs has put Reggie Jackson in the spotlight and possibly in the New Orleans Pelicans' radar. The 10-year veteran is starring for the LA Clippers after Kawhi Leonard injured his knee in the Western Conference semi-finals.
In the postseason, he is averaging 17.6 points while shooting 50.5% from the field and 42% from the 3-point range. In the absence of Leonard, Jackson has stepped up his scoring, putting up 23 points a night on 53.7% shooting from the field and 38.1% from three in five games.
If the New Orleans Pelicans want a point guard with experience but one who isn’t a big-name player who will eat up their cap space, Jackson may just be the perfect fit for the team.
Also Read: 5 big takeaways from the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery results.
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