New Orleans Pelicans: Complete 2017 offseason grades

Cap-friendly Clark

Since the Pelicans plan on playing Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday together in the backcourt, signing a capable backup point guard was imperative for this playoff-hopeful squad, lest they had to resort to the rookie Jackson.

With a one-year deal for Ian Clark for the veteran minimum, NOLA landed a quality reserve whose ceiling was limited with a powerhouse like the Golden State Warriors.

Though this move put the Pellies near the hard cap, it also provided a backup floor general who averaged 6.8 points in just 14.8 minutes per game last season — all while shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 37.4 percent from downtown.

After last summer’s ill-fated spending spree, New Orleans did a nice job bouncing back with cheap deals for useful free agents this offseason. Rondo and Clark are the poster children for that movement, and the floor-spacing Clark provides off the bench will be very helpful for a team in need of 3-point shooting and depth.

Grade: A-