NBA free agency: Players that signed with the wrong team

9. E’Twaun Moore — New Orleans Pelicans

When you look at what the New Orleans Pelicans are looking to do moving forward—or rather what they need to do so that they can be competitive in the Western Conference—one of the chief things on that list would be essentially reconstructing their backcourt. They seemingly started doing just that this offseason by watching Eric Gordon walk, assumedly looking for a trade partner to take on Tyreke Evans, and then signing E’Twaun Moore.

Moore has been an underrated piece over his five years in the league as he’s bounced around, but with no real consistency in regards to his role at any of his stops. However, he has undoubtedly shown flashes of being a high-quality guard deserving of a chance to prove that he can be either a starting caliber guard or a high-functioning role player in any system. That being said, I’m not sure the Pelicans are really in a position right now where Moore is the answer or a good fit for them.

On paper, you see New Orleans adding a solid, mildly underrated guard and you might think that’s a step in the right direction. And there’s the chance that I could be wrong in that. But the Pelicans really shouldn’t be in the business of taking a relative risk on a player like Moore by locking him up on a four-year deal. In addition, the arrival of rookie Buddy Hield could ultimately eat into his minutes. In the end, it just feels like an odd fit where there’s a chance that neither Moore nor New Orleans wins in the end.

Next: No. 8 Barbosa