New Orleans Pelicans: 2017-18 NBA season preview
2017-18 Roster
Alexis Ajinca, C
Tony Allen, SG
Omer Asik, C
Ian Clark, SG
Charles Cooke, SG
DeMarcus Cousins, C
Jordan Crawford, SG
Dante Cunningham, PF
Anthony Davis, PF
Cheick Diallo, F
Solomon Hill, SF
Jrue Holiday, PG
Frank Jackson, PG
Jalen Jones, SF
Perry Jones, SF
Darius Miller, SF
E’Twaun Moore, SG
Rajon Rondo, PG
Offseason Additions
Tony Allen (free agent, Memphis Grizzlies), Ian Clark (free agent, Golden State Warriors), Rajon Rondo (free agent, Chicago Bulls), Darius Miller (free agent, Europe), Frank Jackson (No. 31 overall pick, Duke), Charles Cooke (two-way contract), Jalen Jones (two-way contract), Perry Jones III (training camp contract)
Offseason Subtractions
Tim Frazier (free agent, Washington Wizards), Donatas Motiejunas (free agent, China), Quincy Pondexter (trade, Chicago Bulls)
Quick Thoughts
If the Pelicans did one thing right this offseason, it was replace a couple non-NBA players with NBA players. Last year’s team was so dreadfully shallow that they did not have many free agents to lose; their roster was heavily comprised of 10-day contract guys throughout the season.
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In that sense, replacing players such as Reggie Williams and Hollis Thompson with Allen and Clark is a major upgrade. While Frazier was a quality fill-in for Holiday early last season, Rondo is likely still the superior player.
With that being said, the Pelicans are still paper-thin. They spent the entirety of their free agent capital on re-signing Holiday to a five-year deal, and while the move was necessary, it also locked the team into an extremely flawed roster.
There is hope that Miller has matured into a true NBA player since his last go-around in New Orleans (for those who inexplicably do not remember, Miller was a second round pick in 2012). Frank Jackson may have been a draft-night steal (the Pels sent the No. 40 pick and cash to Charlotte for No. 31). Allen is still a lockdown defender, Rondo can set up teammates and Clark can space the floor.
That’s the rosy picture. The dark, and more honest, version is this: General manager Dell Demps has built yet another shallow, ill-fitting roster. Hopefully for him, this version is talented enough at the top to counteract its myriad of flaws.