NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason targets for the New Orleans Pelicans

After missing the playoffs for the second straight season, what players can the Pelicans acquire to put them back in the playoffs and build a contender in the West?

Although the Pelicans have Anthony Davis under contract for three more seasons (Davis can exercise his player option in the fourth year of his deal), their window to construct a championship contender around him is quickly shrinking. The Pelicans went 34-48 last season and missed the playoffs by seven wins. They are nowhere near serious contention with their current roster. If the situation does not turn around soon, Davis might try to force his way of New Orleans. Trading for DeMarcus Cousins at last season’s deadline was a worthwhile risk, but the concerns about how well the two will mesh on the court still remain.

The job security of top officials in the Pelicans front office has been unstable for years now, which has prompted GM Dell Demps to make many-win now moves that have hampered the team’s cap flexibility. New Orleans has a few terrible contracts on its books, most notably those of Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca. Dumping those salaries won’t be impossible, but it would be costly in terms of draft assets. The Pelicans have hindered their development in the past by dealing first round picks (acquiring Asik for the pick that became Sam Dekker is a good example), so perhaps they would be willing to do so again.

To be fair to the front office, injuries have been a constant obstacle for the Pelicans over the past two years. They just haven’t been able to keep their best players on the court together. A lack of depth on the wing in particular, has crippled their ability to cope with injuries.

Last season’s team showed some promising improvements though. New Orleans finished within the league’s top ten in defensive efficiency, a massive leap from their bottom three finish 2015-2016 (per ESPN Hollinger Stats) . Consistent offensive production and reliable shooting from the wing are this team’s biggest concerns moving forward; New Orleans was bottom five team in offensive efficiency (per ESPN Hollinger Stats) and ranked just above the league average in 3-point makes per game (per NBA Stats). Having Cousins at the start of the season should help revitalize some facets of their sterile offense, but making the playoffs in the West will require some great offseason signings.

The Pelicans are not in an easy spot, and their whole offseason seemingly hinges on how Jrue Holiday’s free agency plays out. He will be on the team’s books with a cap hold close to $17 million until they re-sign him, renounce his Bird Rights (which yields no tangible benefits in this case), or he signs with another team. If they retain him they’ll be functioning as an over the cap team that should target lower tier wing players to round out the roster. If Holiday leaves and the Pelicans cut some of their non-guaranteed players, they could get to about $15 million in cap space (per Basketball-Reference). Trading Asik or Ajinca would increase that figure substantially and give New Orleans just enough space to pursue a new starting point guard.

Re-signing Holiday is far from a guarantee, but New Orleans should try its hardest to retain him at a reasonable price. The team could then pursue free agent wings with their Mid-Level Exception (MLE) and the few smaller exceptions that they have at their disposal.

Here are some players who fit that mold and could help the Pelicans become a more solid playoff contender in the West.