The New Orleans Pelicans suffered maybe the worst damage of any workforce this season. Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones, Jordan Hawkins and now Zion Williamson are all more likely to miss important time resulting from damage. But, pending McCollum, all of those gamers plus Tre Murphy III are beneath contract for the following three seasons, giving the Pelicans a promising core for the long run.
Whereas the Pelicans have depth at guard, wings and energy ahead, they’re sorely missing in any kind of paint presence. New Orleans is twenty seventh within the NBA in rebounding, twenty ninth in paint factors allowed, twenty fifth in paint factors and twenty second in blocks per sport.
New Orleans would not want an offensive-minded heart. Williamson can rating inside with the perfect of them, and the guards and wings can area the ground. Nevertheless, the Pelicans are in want of an inside defensive participant, which has resulted in simulated jobs are growing.
A reputation that has lately appeared in commerce rumors, Detroit Pistons heart Isaiah Stewart. He is a fan favourite within the Motor Metropolis, averaging simply 5.5 factors per sport coming off the bench, however his 1.4 blocks and seven.3 rebounds recommend he could be a pressure on protection . On prime of that, he is a profession 34.5% shooter from 3-point vary, so on offense he can area the ground a bit for Zion.
Stewart is criminally underrated. His 1.4 blocks per sport are stable, however his rim safety is significantly better than that quantity suggests. He is holding opponents to simply 52% taking pictures on the rim, properly beneath the league common of 68%, and decrease than Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nic Claxton or Brook Lopez.
He is solely 23 years previous and has a workforce choice in 2027-28, making him a top quality $15 million per yr participant who would match properly into the Pelicans’ present roster. Detroit in all probability will not let him depart for affordable, however the Pelicans may provide rookies Yves Missi and Brandon Ingram, together with draft capital, to take over the expiring contracts of Stewart and Tim Hardaway Jr. The transfer would open up some flexibility on the cap for the Pistons in the summertime of 2025 whereas making them youthful, which might make the rebuild just a little simpler.
Extra NBA: Clippers anticipated to promote for top value for $90 million star amid current commerce rumors
