Current Roster
PG: Frank Jackson/Quinn Cook
SG: E'Twaun Moore/Jordan Crawford
SF: Solomon Hill/Axel Toupane/Quiny Pondexter
PF: Anthony Davis/Cheick Diallo
C: DeMarcus Cousins/Alexis Ajinca/Omer Asik
2017 Free Agents
Unrestricted
G Jrue Holiday
F Dante Cunningham
C Donantas Motiejunas
Restricted
None
Who They Drafted
2-31 Frank Jackson, PG/SG Duke
The Pelicans traded up to the first pick of the second round to draft Frank Jackson, a combo guard that many believed could be a first round pick due to his age and athletic testing results. Just barely tuned 19, Jackson is young for a first year player and has good size and length for a combo guard, in addition to registering a 42-inch max vertical at the combine as well as other great testing numbers. The problem is that Jackson doesn't utilize that athletic ability very well. He can finish well above the rim and is explosive in a straight line, but doesn't have the wiggle and shake you'd want from a lead ball-handling guard, a fact that is exacerbated by his handle, which lacks advanced moves and breaks down when pressured. He is more of a scoring threat than passer, but he isn't myopic as an offensive player. Where he will likely provide the most value in the NBA is as a shooter, after canning .392% of 130 three-pointers his one season at Duke. That ability to space the floor will be extra important in New Orleans, where spacing will be at a premium around big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. That will be Jackson's role, plus be opportunistic fast breaking and getting the ball to the Pelicans' stars.
What They Need Going Forward
Bringing back Jrue Holiday or replacing him with a competent player to play point guard, as well as whatever they can find on the wing with the space they have. This is a make or break season for the Pelicans (and presumably their front office and coaching staff) and going into the season without an above-average player at point guard and on the wing could spell doom for a lot of people and DeMarcus Cousins' time in New Orleans.
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