These Underrated Pelicans of the 2010s Deserve Their Flowers

Vasquez’s stint in the Big Easy was short-lived, as he was later shipped to the Sacramento Kings as part of the deal that brought Tyreke Evans to the Pelicans.

After leaving New Orleans, Vasquez continued his career as a backup point guard. He provided valuable minutes for several teams, including the Kings, Raptors, and Bucks.

Though his time in New Orleans was brief, Vasquez will always be remembered as a team-first, savvy player that fans could easily rally behind.

Al-Farouq Aminu (2011-2013)

While Aminu ultimately didn’t live up to the expectations of a top-10 pick, he carved out a role for himself as a versatile defender who could guard multiple positions and contribute on the boards.

After playing college basketball for two years at Wake Forest University, the Los Angeles Clippers selected Aminu eighth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Following a disappointing rookie season, Aminu was traded to the Hornets in the now-infamous Chris Paul trade. Aminu spent a total of three seasons in New Orleans, providing solid minutes off the bench for some lackluster Hornets/Pelicans teams.

He was very active on the glass, even leading the Hornets in several rebounding metrics during his tenure. In the 2012-13 NBA season, Aminu led the Hornets in total rebounding percentage (16.9) and defensive rebounds per 36 minutes (7.8). These stats may be niche, but they highlight his strong rebounding ability with limited opportunities.

After three seasons with the Hornets/Pelicans, Aminu continued to be a valuable bench player, and even starter for stretches, for the Mavericks, Trail Blazers, Magic, and Bulls.

He’s probably best remembered for his time in Portland, where he became a key part of several talented Trail Blazers teams. However, it’s worth noting that he was part of the 2017-18 Trail Blazers team that got swept by the Pelicans in the first round. Life really does come full circle.

E’Twaun Moore (2016-2020)

E’Twaun Moore is what you call a “professional basketball player.”

He was never the flashiest player, but he provided value as a strong three-point shooter and above-average defender for some competitive Pelicans teams.

Drafted out of Purdue University, Moore spent his first five seasons bouncing from team to team before finding a home with the Pelicans.

From 2017 to 2020, Moore was an essential bench player in New Orleans, shooting 40% from three during his tenure with the team. He was also a solid on-ball defender who could guard multiple positions. His signature running floater was almost automatic, too.

His best season came in 2017-18, where Moore averaged a career high 12.5 points while shooting 50% from the floor and 42.5% from three.

Moore rarely made headlines, but his consistency and team-first attitude made him a dependable role player during the latter half of the Anthony Davis era in New Orleans.

Conclusion

While the Pelicans have been consistently mediocre for a while now, it’s fun to look at the unique, niche players who contributed to the underwhelming Hornets and Pelicans teams of the 2010s.

While these players didn’t fill up the stat sheet, they were solid glue guys, and the OG Pelicans fans will always remember their impact.