New Orleans Pelicans: 5 free agent targets to pair with Zion Williamson

New Orleans Pelicans targets in 2021 NBA Free Agency: 1. Kyle Lowry

While Lonzo Ball sticking around in New Orleans to run the point seems feasible, the Pelicans might look to make a bigger splash by pursuing Kyle Lowry.

Their rumored interest was first reported by Marc Stein of The New York Times, and while it might have seemed like an odd fit at first, it could be a great match. First and foremost, there would be concerns with Lowry’s timeline, considering he is 35-years-old while the team’s two key pieces in Williamson and Ingram are 21 and 23. However, many have immediately started seeing the resemblance there to what the Phoenix Suns did last offseason by bringing in Chris Paul to complement their younger players. Paul’s veteran leadership and experience helped this team flip the script entirely and snap their decade-long playoff drought with a trip to the NBA Finals.

While trading for Lowry obviously does not guarantee New Orleans a spot in the NBA Finals, it would improve their chances of making a playoff run drastically. Despite his age, Lowry is still one of the better point guards in the game today, coming off a season where he averaged 17.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. Lowry would give Williamson an experienced floor general with championship-level experience and high-quality production as a partner.

With the Pelicans recently making a massive trade with the Memphis Grizzlies that saw several pieces shift teams, they have opened up some cap space to utilize this offseason. With their interest in Lowry in mind, this trade seems to confirm that they will be aggressive in targeting the guard this offseason to pair with Williamson, and rightfully so.