THE The New Orleans Pelicans The upcoming season begins with a few question marks surrounding the team. None of those questions concern the power forward position. New Orleans is rich with talent, and its strongest unit may well be the power forward position.
HoopsHype They ranked their top 30 small forwards in the league, and the Pelicans had three on the list, all in the top 20.
Brandon Ingram headlined the No. 1 pick for New Orleans. The former No. 2 overall pick is ranked ninth on HoopsHype’s list. There’s been a lot of speculation surrounding Ingram’s future with the Pelicans. New Orleans and Ingram failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension this summer, meaning he enters the season on the final year of his current deal and will be an unrestricted free agent after next season.
“Based on his growth early in his career, many thought New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram “Ingram would at least be a perennial All-Star at this point,” writes Frank Urbina of HoopsHype. “Instead, Ingram seemingly maxed out his potential in his fourth season in 2021-22, the only All-Star campaign of his career, never really improving his impact or production since then, instead remaining at the same level.
Next up on the list is someone the Pelicans are going to sign with soon, and that’s Trey Murphy III. His growth year over year in New Orleans highlights the Pelicans’ major goal of keeping Murphy III as a key player moving forward. The former University of Virginia standout had career highs in points, rebounds and assists last year and comes in at No. 16 on the list.
“Murphy can also knock down shots off the dribble when defenders run him to the three-point line, and he also has great length and quick feet that he uses very effectively on defense, making him an impactful 3-and-D weapon for the Pelicans.”
Right behind Murphy III is teammate Herb Jones. He finally got some recognition last season when he was selected to the All-NBA Defensive First Team. Jones also finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year honors and was the only non-center/power forward to make the All-NBA First Team.
Jones is known for his fierce defense, but last season he made significant strides on offense. He averaged a career-high 11 points per game and shot 41 percent from three-point range.
“If the former Alabama standout were a little younger, we might have ranked him higher on this list, because we’re not sure how much potential he has left. But either way, the fact that he’s had such an impressive season in three years indicates he might have another level in him.”
Ingram is a big piece for the Pelicans this offseason. He reportedly wants a contract extension worth $45 million to $50 million per year, and New Orleans is reportedly unwilling to meet his demands. A divorce seems likely, with the Pelicans able to get rid of him at the trade deadline so he doesn’t leave for nothing as a free agent.
If Ingram and his camp are willing to accept less to align more with what New Orleans could offer, then the Pelicans have one of the most talented teams in the NBA for years to come.
