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Tim Frazier, E’Twaun Moore Should Be Part Of Pelicans Future

By Terrence Verwayne

Dec 11, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9), guard Tim Frazier (2), forward Cheick Diallo (13), guard E'Twaun Moore (55) and guard Buddy Hield (24) in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The New Orleans Pelicans won 120 - 119 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9), guard Tim Frazier (2), forward Cheick Diallo (13), guard E'Twaun Moore (55) and guard Buddy Hield (24) in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The New Orleans Pelicans won 120 - 119 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the New Orleans Pelicans look to upgrade their roster this offseason, some players will have to be moved. Tim Frazier and E’Twaun Moore are a couple players that should be brought back.

The New Orleans Pelicans now have the blocks in place and a solid foundation of talent in Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and a healthy Jrue Holiday – whom the Pelicans would be justified in offering a near max contract this offseason.

They’ll undoubtedly want to upgrade their roster around their three-headed All-Star cast in what should be a continuous effort to build a perennial championship contending roster.

Unfortunately, they will be trying to do so with a salary cap that is currently maxed out assuming Dante Cunningham exercises his player option and Holiday is indeed brought back.

The Pelicans right now are projected to be a little more than $4 million over the projected NBA salary cap of $102 million, so if they want to bring in some added talent, current players will have to be moved.

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I wrote about the likeliest players that could be traded during the offseason, but truth is, outside of the aforementioned All-Star trio, everyone will be expendable.

As the Pelicans look to transition their team into a consistent playoff one, Tim Frazier and E’Twaun Moore at least deserve a chance to be a part of New Orleans’ future.

I would include Jordan Crawford on this list but since the Pelicans just signed him to a two-year contract, I assume the Pelicans at the very least want a look at how he fits next year’s roster.

Mar 26, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) guards New Orleans Pelicans guard Tim Frazier (2) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Pelicans won 115-90. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) guards New Orleans Pelicans guard Tim Frazier (2) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Pelicans won 115-90. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Tim Frazier

Tim Frazier had an up-and-down season but has really come on strong as of late. In his last nine games he’s dishing out 50 assists, has only turned the ball over five times, has 10 steals and a plus/minus of 30.

The third-year point guard played a big part of the bench unit’s role in helping the Pelicans turn the corner late in the season. He did a good job manning the second unit and keeping that ship steady as players moved in and out of the rotation in the last month or so.

Frazier has since been inserted in the starting lineup to play alongside Jrue Holiday. In the six games he has started the Pelicans have gone 4-2.

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Tim Frazier is a creator who gets guys good looks and tempo’s the offense whether in the lineup or coming off the bench. He needs to do a better job knocking down shots and overall scoring when the opportunities are there.

He is shooting 41.5 percent overall on the season and only 31.3 percent from three. When he’s more aggressive and making shots it help open up the offense and makes life easier for everyone else, as teams have to respect him as a playmaker and scorer.

The Pelicans have now had 75 games over the course of two seasons to evaluate Frazier after initially signing him to a 10-day contract in the 2015-16 season to help what was an injury-riddled New Orleans Pelicans team.

He re-signed last offseason two years and $4 million. He’s due the remaining $2 million next season and at that price doesn’t take up much space in the cap, accounting for only 1.96 percent next year.

And while the former Penn State product has certainly shown potential, the Pelicans recently signed another point guard with NBA caliber potential to a second 10-day contract in Quinn Cook, who will no doubt get consideration to be a part of next year’s team as well.

Jan 25, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard E’Twaun Moore (55) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard E’Twaun Moore (55) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

E’Twaun Moore

E’Twaun Moore has really been a solid two-way player for the Pelicans this season. Whether he’s in or out of the starting lineup, Moore is a guard who has no trouble creating offense for himself while occasionally playmaking for others.

Moore has been one the of more reliable sources of perimeter offense on the team on a team that has lacked a true outside presence all year.

However, he has been on a slump since the All-Star break, as his three-point percentage has dropped from 38.7 prior to the break to 31.9 after.

If he can get back to form, remain assertive on both ends and maintain a level of consistency, he’ll no doubt be an asset for the Pelicans as they continue moving forward.

He is signed through the 2018-19 season at an average salary of about $8.6 million per year staring in 2017-18. It’s more than possible the Pelicans try to move Moore and bring in a cheaper vet in hopes of creating much-needed salary cap space.

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But if they opt to keep Moore next year, then I think he has played well enough to garner more opportunities on next year’s roster and if he can take advantage, then his contract will be an discount in today’s NBA landscape.

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