Pelicans' 3 Biggest Weaknesses Next Season

The stats defensively with those two in the lineup together were horrid, but the team didn’t have many quality options last year, and the same holds this year.

New Orleans didn’t address their most glaring need this offseason, instead re-signing 37-year-old veteran DeAndre Jordan to a two-year deal. There will likely be plenty of small lineups again this season, which will put the Pelicans at a clear disadvantage against bigger teams in the league.

3-Point Volume & Spacing

Today’s NBA math dictates perimeter volume and efficiency, but the Pelicans are often at a distinct disadvantage outside the arc. The Pelicans were near the bottom of the league last season in three-point attempts, three-point makes, and three-point shooting percentage. Of their top eight scorers last year, only two of them shot above 35% from the three-point line.

With such a lethal interior force like Williamson on the court, having the necessary spacing around him keeps defenses honest and prevents them from clogging the paint and creating a wall from the basket.

The lack of consistent outside shooting is problematic given the Pelicans' lack of size. In small-ball lineups, spacing should be a distinct advantage against larger teams, but without it, New Orleans finds itself getting punished down low and unable to outscore opponents from the outside.

Unless there is a drastic change in personnel or a dramatic shooting improvement, opposing teams will pack the paint against Williamson and Queen and dare New Orleans to beat them from the perimeter.

Financial Obligations & Roster Redundancy

Since the Pelicans don’t have quality depth at starting center, they have a lot of players who do a lot of the same things.

New Orleans is crowded at the wing position with Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, Micah Peavy, Bryce McGowens, and Jordan Hawkins, who all received quality playing time last season.

They have two high-priced guards in Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray, each set to make over $30 million this upcoming season. Still, because of Murray’s recovery last year from an Achilles injury, the Pelicans really don’t know how they fit together.

Throw in the impressive rookie season from Jeremiah Fears, and the Pelicans have a lot of backcourt players vying for touches and playing time heading into the season.

Poole’s contract is an expiring deal this year, so New Orleans should be able to flip him before the deadline if things go south early, record-wise, for the Pelicans.

The team is about $8 million below the luxury tax and intends to stay there, given that they have never paid into the tax in its history. Managing playing time for all those players won’t be easy for Jamahl Mosley, but it will be interesting to see how he adopts these lineups as the season goes on.