Predicting Roles and Impact of Each New Orleans Pelicans Newcomer This Season
This offseason, the New Orleans Pelicans added several fresh faces to their roster. From signing free-agent shooting guard Jimmer Fredette to dealing for big man Omer Asik, the franchise remained relatively active throughout the course of the summer.
It is evident the Pelicans made moves. But what role will these newcomers fill, and how will each individual player impact the team?
At this point, the answer is unclear. However, it is a topic worth speculating as the season inches closer to its initiation.
Without further ado, let's explore what's in store for 2014-15.
Patric Young: NBA Development League
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An undrafted rookie out of Florida, Patric Young inked a two-year contract with New Orleans after impressing through his performance in summer league.
Young is an athletic, defensively talented power forward who is just oozing with potential. However, with the Pelicans possessing a plethora of more established bigs, the former Gator will likely serve as the odd man out of their rotation.
Consequently, expect Young to spend the majority of this season in the NBA Development League.
While the D-League is obviously a downgrade from the NBA, it can play a pivotal role in improving an athlete's all-around game. Time in this environment would aid Young significantly, as it would not only allow him to enhance his defensive abilities, but it also would help the 22-year-old become more versatile offensively as well.
According to Draft Express, Young always deferred to his jump hook when posting up on offense. Since the 4-man would serve as a focal point in the D-League, he would have the chance to implement more elements into his skill set.
In essence, the D-League would help Young carve a successful career path moving forward.
Hands-on experience is better than observing from the sidelines. And Young will do the latter should he remain with New Orleans all year. Assuming the Pelicans desire him to develop, it is reasonable to envision them assigning the rookie to the D-League.
Russ Smith: Backup Point Guard
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New Orleans failed to extend 1-man Brian Roberts a qualifying offer this offseason. As a result, Roberts is gone, and the role for backup point guard is currently up in the air.
And if Russ Smith's summer league play is any indicator, the Louisville product seems poised to grab it.
Through five games in the Las Vegas Summer League, Smith showed his worth as a facilitator, leading all participants in assists with 6.4 per game. The 23-year-old rookie consistently set up teammates for exceptional opportunities, whether it occurred on a drive-and-kick or a fast break.
In addition to finding open players, Smith produced 16 points and five rebounds per game. He also finished Vegas with 1.4 steals per contest, leaving no doubt he holds potential to play effectively on both ends of the court.
Smith will likely back up Jrue Holiday from the get-go. His eye for the floor will allow the offense to run smoothly, and his hard-nosed defense will help him challenge any point guard he faces.
When Holiday heads to the bench, expect Smith to pick up the slack. The rookie will positively impact ball games this season, and he will prove critical in the Pelicans' playoff push.
John Salmons: Backup Small Forward
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Following John Salmons' release from the Atlanta Hawks—the club that acquired him from the Toronto Raptors via trade—the Pelicans signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract.
Assuming Tyreke Evans starts at small forward, Salmons will serve as the primary 3-man off the bench. The 12-year veteran will give New Orleans a reliable marksman from distance, as the forward has produced a three-point percentage of 37.9 over the last two years.
However, on a Pelicans team that boasts an average age of roughly 26 (including Salmons), the 34-year-old's veteran presence will prove his most significant contribution.
He may not provide much statistically, but Salmons will still lead this group of youngsters. The small forward has led a productive career and has appeared in 28 postseason games.
From a team standpoint, this experience is invaluable, as Salmons can help his teammates learn through his advice as well as his play.
On the Raptors last year, the veteran filled a similar role. Toronto power forward Amir Johnson perfectly described what he brings to Stephen Brotherston of probballreport.com:
"(Salmons brings) more veteran leadership. He has 12 years. He knows the game. He has been in a bunch of situations and played with great teams. He knows how to get a bucket when he wants too. He is just an all-around good player.
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It doesn't seem like much, but experience can largely impact young ball clubs. Salmons boasts a lot of this, and he will dispense knowledge on New Orleans' youth through everything he's learned from his own career.
Jimmer Fredette: Reserve Shooting Guard
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The Pelicans lost a sharpshooter this summer in Anthony Morrow, as the shooting guard signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, through the addition of Jimmer Fredette in free agency, New Orleans essentially filled the void Morrow left behind.
Ever since entering the league in 2011, Fredette has failed to accomplish much. His three-point shooting has never significantly faltered—he has produced an outstanding percentage of 40.1 in his three NBA seasons—but a consistent lack of court time has held him back.
With the Pelicans this year, Fredette will compete against Austin Rivers for minutes as the backup 2-guard. Barring a breakout season from Rivers, which can very well occur, Fredette boasts a realistic opportunity to fully claim this spot.
Even if the 25-year-old doesn't overcome Rivers, he will still obtain minutes due to his extraordinary talent for threes. When in the game, opponents will have to respect his ability to stroke from deep. Subsequently, open lanes will emerge for the offense, thus allowing for various offensive opportunities.
And obviously, if he's left alone, the BYU product will provide nothing less than the expected result.
Fredette's defense is undoubtedly a cause for concern—he put forth a lowly defensive rating of 110 last season—but his knack for knocking down treys cannot be ignored.
His impact may go only as far as just spreading the floor, but it will prove helpful all the same.
Omer Asik: Starting Center
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After executing a three-team transaction involving the Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards, the Pelicans have secured Omer Asik for at least the last year of his contract.
New Orleans struck gold in this acquisition, as Asik complements rising big man Anthony Davis perfectly. While Davis will certainly serve as the team's top option inside (not to mention the squad as a whole), Asik's presence in the paint will prove indispensable—particularly on the defensive end.
Simply put, the big man is a beast defensively. His career average of 0.9 blocks doesn't do him justice, as the 7'0" colossus consistently alters attempts from those who dare cross his path. In addition, he absolutely dominates the glass, utilizing his strength to box out opponents as well as his instincts to predict the ball's trajectory.
Asik put forth 8.3 defensive rebounds in 2012-13, which was his lone NBA season as a starter. The 681 boards he accumulated on defense proved high enough for second among all players that year.
Offensively, the Turkish center's game revolves around the rim, evidenced by the fact 79.8 percent of his shot attempts have occurred between zero to three feet. Since Davis and backup power forward Ryan Anderson can both score from beyond the key, the offensive balance between Asik and his counterparts will naturally work out beautifully.
The Pelicans bolstered their starting lineup by obtaining Asik. He and Davis boast potential to form the most dominant defensive duo in the league, and he gives the offense a reliable finisher manning the middle.
If anything, Asik will strengthen New Orleans' push for a playoff spot in the West.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.
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