The Pelicans are set to hold a voluntary mini-camp ahead of the official start of their team training camp, reports Will Guillory of The Athletic (Twitter link). New Orleans is expected to have all but one member of its roster present at the mini-camp, which will take place next week in California.
The club is looking to build on its postseason success last year. New Orleans finished with a 49-33 record, its best finish since 2008/09. The team fell in its first play-in tournament game to the Lakers, but managed to survive the Kings and secure the West’s No. 8 seed. The Pelicans were quickly swept out of the playoffs by the No. 1-seeded Thunder.
Team president David Griffin wasn’t going to take the defeat lying down. He traded to acquire former All-Star combo guard Dejounte Murray from the Hawks, and is hoping New Orleans can bolster its backcourt defense. The Pelicans lost starting center Jonas Valanciunas to free agency, and questions remain about the fate of star forward Brandon Ingram. Ingram’s fit alongside All-Star forward Zion Williamson has long been in question. Ingram has yet to work out a contract extension with New Orleans this summer.
There’s more out of the Southwest Division:
- Newly-signed Pelicans center Daniel Theis isn’t expected to join his teammates in California for the team’s voluntary mini-camp, tweets Guillory. The 6’8″ big man inked a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal to join New Orleans this summer. Across 60 games for the Pacers and Clippers in 2023/24, Theis posted averages of 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.9 blocks per night, with a shooting line of .532/.366/.760.
- In a mailbag, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reflected on how new addition Naji Marshall may be able to offset the free agency departure of starting swingman Derrick Jones Jr., noting that Marshall is a stronger long-range shooter and a solid passer, but not quite as good a defender or lob target.
- Elsewhere in the mailbag, Curtis says he sees the Mavericks’ three major roster acquisitions as overall improvements over role players Jones, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Josh Green. Beyond Marshall, Dallas added former Warriors All-Star wing Klay Thompson via sign-and-trade and obtained guard Quentin Grimes.
Comrades? Kamala hasn’t even won the election yet!
Javonte gunna push into a role
As a strong switchable wing
Naji is a very different player from DJJ, he is a nice 3&D guy but not at a very high level, DJJ’s defense was really good. I think the Mavs got worst this off season simply because they lost so much defense but I aint no specialist
Mavs a weird it’s like guards and bigs.
You’ve got Kyrie and Luka very ball dominant guards, then two SG’s in Klay and Grimes.
1 SF in Naji, 1 PF in Washington then 2 bigs in Lively and Gafford.
Ofcourse there’s depth after that but this is the core of the side. Dinwiddie I think will enjoy coming back, but has to battle Exum and Hardy for minutes. In terms of back up forwards again it’s very light with Edwards and OMP. Then Kleber and Powell.
It gives of college basketball vibes with 3 Guard 2 Big line ups, ball dominant guards and physical bigs. I just think that again come the end of the season they’ll struggle against certain match ups.
Think Pelicans vs Mavs in particular should be good. I can see them going Dejounte Trey Herb Zion …
Dejounte can match up against a Kyrie or Luka, while Herb is an elite defender. Trey is there for switches. Zion is more athletic than PJ and can beat him, but centre is the concern.
Down the other end, Kyrie and Luka are poor defensively and Dejounte is an aggressive guard, Trey and Herb both can light it up from 3 so you can’t sag them you’ve got Zion who will be too much for PJ.
If NOLA traded Ingram for a centre then it’s all on.