2017 NBA free agency grades: Tony Allen joining New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a deal with Tony Allen. Here are 2017 NBA free agency grades for the move.

The New Orleans Pelicans are putting a lot of eggs into the Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins basket. With so much money tied up in those two players, the Pelicans had very little wiggle room this offseason to operate with.

New Orleans was fortunate enough to retain point guard Jrue Holiday on a five-year, $126 million deal. Holiday could earn up to $150 if he reaches his extra incentives. The fifth year is also a player option.

With Holiday back in the fold, the Pelicans have their Big Three in place. However, there isn’t much else. New Orleans has made some other additions to the roster, mostly in the backcourt. In addition to Holiday, the Pelicans also signed Rajon Rondo to help out at point guard. New Orleans would also add Ian Clark for some backcourt depth.

The Pelicans have once again dipped into the free agency market to shore up their backcourt. According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, the Pelicans were finalizing a one-year deal with shooting guard Tony Allen on Monday.

This was a move that the Pelicans probably didn’t think they would have to make when the offseason began, but things have changed drastically since April. Solomon Hill has been lost for the season with a hamstring injury, leaving the Pelicans woefully thin on the wing.

In addition to Hill, the Pelicans will also be without Frank Jackson for a lengthy period of time. Jackson had surgery prior to the 2017 NBA Draft in May, but the Pelicans still selected him with the 31st overall pick. On Aug, 31, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN announced that he would be undergoing yet another surgery on his broken foot.

New Orleans Pelicans

That injury could keep Jackson out 3-4 months, putting him behind the eight-ball for his rookie season. Allen won’t replicate what Jackson brought to the court, as Jackson is a scoring point guard that can shoot. However, Allen gives the Pelicans another NBA-caliber player, something their roster does not have many of.

Allen is entering his 14th season in the NBA, yet is still regarded as an above-average defender. He won’t help out much offensively, but he should instantly become the Pelicans’ top defensive player on the wing.

How much he can get on the court, however, is another question. It would be difficult for the Pelicans to play Allen in the backcourt with Rondo, another player that teams will not be afraid to sag off of defensively.

The Pelicans could be best suited to start Allen at the 3. It would make defending Davis and Cousins easier, but the Pelicans may not able to afford to start anyone else there.

If Rondo starts, the backup point guard would either be E’Twaun Moore or Clark. Those would be two players Allen could play alongside, as both can score and stretch the court a little bit.

Floor-spacing was already a problem for the Pelicans, and Allen won’t help that. However, Allen has a skill-set that can be beneficial for the Pelicans. They are going to need someone to help slow down opposing teams, and there aren’t many better at that than The Grindfather.

Next: New Orleans Pelicans Complete 2017 Offseason Grades

The Pelicans have plenty of offensive-minded guards on the roster in Holiday, Crawford, Clark and Moore. Adding a defensive-minded player in Allen will have its benefits. His leadership and experience is also something that the Pelicans will benefit from.

Grade: B