The New Orleans Pelicans are entering training camp soon. Here are a couple of players with the most to prove and gain by performing well.
The New Orleans Pelicans are fast approaching training camp with the plan of competing for a playoff push this season.
For some, it'll just be about getting back into rhythm and finding out how they fit into the new coaching staff's system. For others, though, there is a little bit more that they need to show over the coming weeks. Here are the Pelicans with a little extra to prove throughout camp:
G Jordan Poole
Poole is at a crossroads in his career. He's entering the last year of his deal and doesn't have much equity for a new deal. In his first campaign in New Orleans, he posted 13.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 37.2/33.3/86.0 shooting splits. By the end of the season, he was out of the rotation for the most part.
Perhaps it was just a poor fit with the previous coaching and game plan. If he can hit the ground running in camp, the team could feel better about his potential minutes once again. If he doesn't, though, it might be a frustrating year.
G/F Bennedict Mathurin
Mathurin is going to have a role this year. This front office has coveted him for far too long, and he put up over 17 points per game last year. Just how big his role is, though, could change a lot at the start of the season.
For a roster that hasn't made the playoffs in a couple of years, they are fairly deep in terms of who they could run out there. Players like Jeremiah Fears, Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen are more established within this group and are all going to get a lot of play as well. Mathurin, as a newcomer, is going to have to assert himself.
G AJ Johnson
Johnson is simply fighting for a roster spot right now. He is entering his third season after being a first-round pick and has posted 4.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game on 35.7/24.5/85.7 shooting splits.
They brought him in during the Jordan Hawkins trade as someone with a little bit more motivation to get a deal done. He was always meant to be a project, but not one that the Pelicans have committed to working on yet.
F/C Derik Queen
Queen is in a different spot than the others on this list, but he does have a lot to gain from performing well in camp. The expectation is that Yves Missi opens the year as the starter at center, but there is no reason why Queen couldn't take that spot if he earns it in camp.
New Orleans would need to see a sizable jump in defense and his offensive efficiency, but he's had an offseason to work on the things he knew he needed to fix. Now it's time to see if the work paid off.
