New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are one of a few teams with cap space left to play around with this free agency, but they already have 15 players on their roster, assuming that they sign second-round draft pick Herbert Jones and do not waive Wenyen Gabriel. If they waive Gabriel, which seems likely, the Pelicans will have an open spot, so could they look to bring in Kelly Oubre Jr.?
Once again, he would have to be willing to take a pay cut from what he was looking for entering free agency to join New Orleans, but this would be a really solid spot for him. If the Pelicans did not bring back Josh Hart, then they would have an immediate need on the wing for a player like Kelly Oubre Jr.
They did draft Trey Murphy III and did get Garrett Temple as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Bulls for Lonzo Ball, but Oubre Jr. could slide into the shooting guard position next to Brandon Ingram on the wing, giving the Pelicans a really athletic starting unit.
In transition, the Pels would have Zion, Oubre, Ingram and newly acquired Devonte’ Graham, giving them everything they would need to be one of the more fast-paced, high-scoring teams in the league. When you look at New Orleans’ roster right now, it is really solid, but they are still missing something. They are a team to watch in rumors around the NBA as a result.
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Kelly Oubre Jr. could be that “something” for them and be the final piece to their team in order for the Pelicans to finally make it back to the playoffs. They may use their little bit of cap space they have left to bring in another guard behind Devonte’ Graham, but adding Kelly Oubre Jr. definitely has its benefits for the New Orleans Pelicans.
