New Orleans Pelicans: 5 goals for the 2018 offseason

4. Improve the bench

With a second unit that ranked in the bottom fifth in five major statistical categories, it’s clear the Pelicans need upgrades.

This isn’t to say they need a big-time scorer or a possible Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Led by Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis, this team is built on star power, and will ultimately go where their dynamic duo takes them.

However, even the best of players need a breather at times, and New Orleans needs guys that can spell those two (and others) and simply hold the fort down until they re-enter the game.

Depending on what they choose to do with free agent center DeMarcus Cousins, Demps could have some cap room to work with in order to balance out the roster.

A Fred VanVleet or a Devin Harris would do wonders for New Orleans’ bench, giving them a steadying presence who can run the show when called upon. Or maybe the team would be better off pursuing Michael Beasley, a guy who would be instant offense off the pine.

Whatever the front office chooses to do, the Pelicans need to become less reliant on their stars during the regular season so that they don’t burn themselves out once playoff basketball begins. That starts with having guys they can trust when Davis and Jrue are off the court.