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Could Terrence Jones Be Reinvigorated With The New Orleans Pelicans?

By Adam McGee

Oct 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9) is defended by Indiana Pacers forward Georges Niang (32) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pacers defeated the Pelicans 113-96. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9) is defended by Indiana Pacers forward Georges Niang (32) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pacers defeated the Pelicans 113-96. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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After falling out of favor with the Houston Rockets, will Terrence Jones be able to reinvent himself with the New Orleans Pelicans?

A change of scenery and a more welcoming environment can do wonders for players. When the New Orleans Pelicans picked up Terrence Jones on a bargain one-year, minimum deal earlier this summer, that’s exactly how they’d be hoping their gamble could pay-off on the 24-year-old.

After a disappointing first season as head coach in New Orleans, Alvin Gentry will enter his second season with a roster that should be more tailored towards playing in a style that befits the 61-year-old’s coaching philosophies.

Aside from the obvious injury woes that crippled the Pelicans last season, they were held back by a roster that was markedly rigid. As such, the emphasis from Gentry and a front office still headed up by Dell Demps but now also including Danny Ferry, was to become more versatile.

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If the Pelicans are hoping to play with any kind of pace or high intensity on both ends of the floor, positional fluidity and accomplished two-way pros were going to be a must.

In a summer of solid, impressive business, the additions of players like E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway, Solomon Hill, Terrence Jones and, even, Lance Stephenson saw the Pelicans quietly retool their roster into a group that now has an identifiable direction.

Of that group, its Jones who offers the most intriguing prospect though. Having played mostly as a power forward throughout his career to date, the addition of Jones was initially viewed by most observers as the Pelicans picking up security for their oft-injured talisman Anthony Davis.

There could be more to the Portland native’s role though.

In small bursts throughout the preseason, amounting to 18 minutes in total, the Pelicans turned to Jones and Davis as a combination.

With both men working in tandem capable of switching from the 4 to the 5 spots on defense, and offering a more versatile and nuanced front court look than either Alexis Ajinca or Omer Asik can provide.

As reported by Justin Verrier of ESPN back in September, Gentry has expressed a willingness to use Davis at the center position more often this season.

"“We’re going to start whoever we think we’re going to start at that particular time [who] is going to be the best for us. Sometimes it will be Omer, sometimes it may not be. Sometimes it may be AD at 5, sometimes maybe Alexis [Ajinca]. We’re not married to anything. So I think for us, I think we’re still in a situation where we have to figure this team out. And the rotations and the guys we have out there.”"

Gentry also relayed to Verrier that Jones would be a candidate for spot minutes at the 5, describing the former Kentucky Wildcat as follows:

"“He’s a big, strong kid. Athletic and stuff like that. That’s why we liked him and that’s why we picked him up.”"

While those quotes from September give the impression of a frontcourt rotation that was still very much in flux, the impact of Terrence Jones in the preseason games since has likely seen him stake a case for an even greater role in New Orleans’ plans.

Playing in four of the Pelicans’ six preseason games, Terrence Jones averaged 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep.

That scoring punch was good enough to make Jones’ New Orleans leading scorer in preseason.

Those performances should give Gentry the impetus to experiment with Jones a little more in the opening few games of the season, and why not see how he and Davis can work together?

The pair where frontcourt partners in college at Kentucky, and as such, there’s a real opportunity that their chemistry and comfort level could help them to click quickly in an NBA setting.

As Brendon Kleen of Pelican Debrief recently outlined in previewing Jones’ season, the Pelicans’ best player would look set to be the biggest beneficiary of what Jones can bring to the table.

"“The potential effect he’ll have on Anthony Davis is important. Playing with a former teammate always has the potential to boost the production of both players, but having that partner be another big man from an incredibly successful team might just blow the top off of all of it. I already mentioned the rebounding boost Davis figures to get, and he’ll likely be the primary beneficiary of the space Jones will provide.”"

After a disappointing season last year in playing a style with pieces that clearly didn’t fit, Alvin Gentry and the Pelicans owe it to themselves to use the early parts of the season to try out some new things.

In Jones, they’ve added a skilled player who should have the tools to help his team on both ends of the floor, but even more importantly, he could make his teammates better in the process.

Next: Buddy Hield: The Outside Pick For Rookie Of The Year

Jones should get plenty of opportunity in the Big Easy in the coming months and there’s every chance he’ll take them.

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