NBA Thanksgiving 2019: What each team has to be thankful for

New Orleans Pelicans

Rookie buzz

All the hype continues to swirl around Zion Williamson, who should hopefully make his NBA debut in mid-December, but as exciting as that’ll be for the New Orleans Pelicans, their other rookie big is deserving of praise as well.

Jaxson Hayes was a bit of a controversial pick at No. 8 for the Pels, even for a team in need of frontcourt depth, but he’s been tremendous filling in for the injured Derrick Favors. In his last five games, all starts, the Texas product has put up 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 26.7 minutes a night, boasting a team-best Net Rating of plus-14.2 over that stretch.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has come on a bit more slowly, and Zion hasn’t even played his first game yet, but between Williamson’s imminent return, NAW’s bright future and Hayes’ recent returns, New Orleans should feel very good about its rookies.