How will Anthony Davis, Buddy Hield and the New Orleans Pelicans do in 2016-17?
Here are our player scouting reports and analysis.
Projected starters
Jrue Holiday
Position: Guard
Experience: 7 years
Age: 26
Scouting report
+ In healthiest season in New Orleans, fulfilled expectations as offensive focal point
+ Good at creating shots for himself and others but not particularly efficient
+ Plus defender who can match up at either guard spot
Analysis
Having played just 74 games in his first two seasons with the Pelicans because of recurrent stress injuries to his right tibia, Holiday nearly matched that last year, playing 65 before unrelated injuries sidelined him all of April. A minutes limit helped keep Holiday upright but also made it difficult for Alvin Gentry to craft a rotation around him. Holiday came off the bench most of the season despite New Orleans scoring 4.5 more points per 100 possessions with him on the court, per NBA.com/Stats. Expect him to return to the starting five this season, although not until after his wife Lauren -- a former member of the World Cup-winning U.S. Women's National Team -- has given birth to their daughter and subsequently undergone surgery to remove a benign brain tumor diagnosed during her pregnancy. Holiday revealed his wife's condition in early September and announced in the Times Picayune that he would be away from the team to care for their newborn and aid his wife during her recovery from the surgery.
A fine pick-and-roll player, Holiday ranked fifth in points per game scored as a pick-and-roll ball handler (8.2), per Synergy Sports tracking on NBA.com/Stats. He excels at getting into the paint but is better there as a distributor than a finisher, making just 57.6 percent of his attempts inside three feet according to Basketball-Reference.com (right at his career mark of 57.3 percent). Holiday also rarely draws fouls, so although he's capable of generating a lot of offense (his 28.9 percent usage rate, a career high, was just behind Anthony Davis for tops on the Pelicans), his true shooting percentage was a below-average .529. That does figure to improve this season since Holiday's 3-point shooting slumped to 33.6 percent from a career 36.8 percent mark.
Holiday is also a good defender who plays somewhat bigger than his listed 6-foot-4. He can hold his own against shooting guards and is good at corralling opposing point guards to keep them in front of him. Holiday has also generated steals at an above-average rate throughout his career.
Buddy Hield
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
Age: 22
Scouting report
+ College superstar who must adjust to smaller role as professional
+ Has worked hard to extend shooting range beyond NBA 3-point line
+ Shows promise as off-ball defender but may struggle one-on-one
Analysis
"Buddy Mania" spread throughout the country from Norman last season, as Hield was the consensus National Player of the Year as a senior at Oklahoma. The Bahamas native averaged 25 points per game while shooting 45.7 percent from 3-point range (on 8.7 attempts a night), leading the Sooners to the Final Four. His growth from reserve as a freshman to superstar as senior made him a polarizing NBA prospect. New Orleans drafted him sixth overall, and Hield will have a chance to start right away with a strong training camp.
At Oklahoma, Hield was the offense, using more than 30 percent of the Sooners' plays as a senior. That will change in the NBA, and Hield will have to adjust to more of a catch-and-shoot role, which should be fine: Hield posted a 66.9 percent effective field goal percentage in spot-up situations last season, per Synergy Sports tracking. For now, the Pelicans probably want to limit Hield's ball handling responsibilities. He struggled running frequent pick-and-rolls at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, shooting just 32.7 percent from the field, and turnovers were an issue in college -- Hield averaged 3.7 per 40 minutes.
Much of Hield's success will be determined by how he adapts defensively. He has got only average size and athleticism for an NBA shooting guard, one concern for scouts. But I liked the way he locked and trailed cutters around screens, something he'll have to do frequently as a pro.
Solomon Hill
Position: Forward
Experience: 3 years
Age: 25
Scouting report
+ Combo forward who excelled as stretch 4 in small Pacers lineups
+ Good creator off the dribble whose 3-point shooting has been inconsistent
+ Plays bigger than his size defensively but not great defensive rebounder
Analysis
The Indiana Pacers' loss was perhaps New Orleans' gain. Indiana declined the fourth-year option on Hill's rookie contract, which made him an unrestricted free agent and limited them to paying him the $2.3 million value of the option. After a hot-shooting postseason where he emerged as the Pacers' best option at power forward, Hill got a deal worth more than five times that amount annually (four years, $48 million) from the Pelicans. He's a favorite for a starting spot on the wing, though New Orleans might have overpaid for fluky playoff shooting and might be using Hill out of position.
If the Pelicans use him primarily as a small forward, Hill will be a below-average offensive player. Hill's a career 32.5 percent shooter from 3, though he has good form and made 11-of-19 against the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs -- something New Orleans shouldn't bet on continuing. Like his shooting, Hill's quickness is also more of a strength at power forward. He's good at getting to the basket off the dribble and finished better last season (64.8 percent inside three feet, per Basketball-Reference.com) after struggling with shot blockers his first two years.
Having regularly played power forward at Arizona, Hill was comfortable defending bigger players and a good matchup against stretch 4s. At the position, he can switch pick-and-rolls, though his lateral mobility is a tad weak to keep guards in front of him. The biggest downside to playing Hill at power forward is he's a poor defensive rebounder for the position. As a wing defender, Hill isn't quite consistent enough to be trusted defending elite scorers.
Anthony Davis
Position: Forward
Experience: 4 years
Age: 23
Scouting report
+ Rising superstar whose ascent took a step backward last season
+ Struggles at times when asked to create offense but elite finisher
+ Has tools to dominate defensively but must improve effort and focus
Analysis
Last season was supposed to be the year of the Brow. Davis was a preseason favorite for MVP, at least among ESPN writers, but he was actually less effective than 2014-15 before surgery ended his season in March. Davis' downturn can be attributed in large part to the injuries that struck the team. In the long-term, that's not a big problem for anything but Davis' pocketbook -- he failed to quality for the "Derrick Rose rule" by making an All-NBA Team, costing him $25 million over the life of a five-year extension that kicks in for 2016-17. But the patella wear and tear that led to a March debridement could make it difficult for Davis to achieve his massive potential.
As I highlighted early in the season, Davis is unusually dependent on assists for a star player, and despite an uptick in his usage rate, he actually ended up being assisted more in 2015-16 than either of the previous two seasons, per Basketball-Reference.com. As a result, Davis played far better with Holiday on the court, posting a .596 true shooting percentage (similar to his overall .591 mark in 2014-15) when they played together, which dropped to .508 with Holiday on the bench according to NBAwowy.com. So Holiday's likely return to the starting five is great news for Davis.
To the delight of NBA Twitter (guilty!), Davis added 3-point range last season, making 35 at a 32.4 percent clip. While spending more time on the perimeter might be an inevitable transformation for Davis as he ages, it didn't necessarily help last season. Davis' offensive rebound percentage dropped to 6.4 percent of missed shots, down from 8 percent in 2014-15 and double-digits his first two seasons. As a result, Davis got fewer self-created easy opportunities on putbacks. But Davis did make a pair of 3s in his 59-point, 20-rebound domination of the Detroit Pistons in February.
Davis' defensive effort was more disappointing than his offensive step back. Whether it was health-related or tied to frustration over the team's slow start, Davis' energy level wasn't the same as the year before, when he had started to make good on his immense defensive potential. Davis' block percentage dropped by nearly a quarter and his steal rate was down too. As a result, his defensive rating in ESPN's real plus-minus dropped from second among power forwards in 2014-15 to outside the top 15 last season.
Omer Asik
Position: Center
Experience: 6 years
Age: 30
Scouting report
+ Slow-footed center who has been further anchored in place by injuries
+ Good offensive rebounder who struggles to finish in traffic
+ Formerly strong defender whose block rate has declined precipitously
Analysis
One year into Asik's five-year, $53 million deal (albeit with just $3 million guaranteed in 2019-20), New Orleans would probably like to take a mulligan. Asik proved a predictably poor fit in Alvin Gentry's offense, clogged the floor when he played alongside Davis and was far less mobile after missing 2015 EuroBasket due to back spasms. Having turned 30 in July, Asik will be challenged to turn things around.
At best, Asik was always a distant option offensively. He has got poor hands and zero shooting range, so his offense has generally been limited to putbacks and finishing dump-offs around the basket. Because Asik has a long windup and struggled to get off the court, he had an even tougher time scoring in traffic last season. That didn't necessarily manifest itself in his shooting percentage (53.3 percent, right at his career mark), but because Asik often didn't even get a shot off, his usage declined to a career-low 11.4 percent of the Pelicans' plays from 14 percent the previous year.
Defense has been Asik's calling card, but his limited mobility became an issue last season. Never a huge shot blocker, even when his positional defense did provide rim protection, Asik blocked just 1.6 percent of opponents' 2-point attempts last season -- below average for a power forward. Asik had a tough time recovering to give help when pulled away from the basket. When he was in position, opponents still shot 52.8 percent inside five feet according to SportVU tracking on NBA.com/Stats. Asik's poor lateral quickness is even more problematic defending against stretch 5s or against pick-and-rolls, which compromised the Pelicans' defensive flexibility. They allowed 0.9 more points per 100 possessions with Asik on the court, per NBA.com/Stats, while scoring 6.6 fewer points per 100 possessions on offense.
Reserves
Quincy Pondexter
Position: Forward
Experience: 5 years
Age: 28
Scouting report
+ Useful 3-and-D specialist who missed entire 2015-16 campaign after pair of knee surgeries
+ Offensive value fluctuates with 3-point percentage; slightly above average overall
+ Determined, physical defender who can defend either wing spot and smaller 4s
Analysis
New Orleans' 2015 playoff run was catalyzed by adding Pondexter in a midseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. The team went 27-18 thereafter, a 49-win pace over a full season. Pondexter's value was proven again last year, when he was sidelined the entire season. He played through a knee injury in the 2015 playoffs, and when his recovery from offseason knee surgery lagged, underwent an unproven cartilage replacement surgery in January that ended his season. Pondexter should be cleared for training camp to battle for a starting spot.
Pondexter's absence highlighted the lack of other capable 3-and-D players on the roster. The Pelicans had wings who could shoot and wings who could defend, but Pondexter was the only one who could do both -- something they hope they rectified this summer. Particularly after the surgery, Pondexter's offensive role figures to be limited. He used just 13.4 percent of New Orleans' plays in 2014-15, and more than half his shot attempts were 3s, so Pondexter has to make them to be effective. He did that with the Pelicans, shooting 43.3 percent from 3-point range after making just 23.3 percent of his triples in Memphis. Expect Pondexter to settle into something closer to his career 36.5 percent mark, though he has tended to bounce around that.
The 6-foot-7 Pondexter was a power forward much of his college career at Washington, so he's comfortable defending bigger opponents. In fact, that may be a better role for him if he has lost any quickness following the cartilage replacement. Before the surgery, Pondexter could defend the better offensive option at either wing spot. That may no longer be the case. However, playing Pondexter at power forward would mean sacrificing on the glass because he has been below average for a wing as a defensive rebounder.
E'Twaun Moore
Position: Guard
Experience: 5 years
Age: 27
Scouting report
+ Defensive-minded combo guard who cashed in on career year
+ Good 3-point shooter who rarely penetrates off the dribble
+ Solid defender against either guard position
Analysis
After playing intermittently for the Chicago Bulls in the first half of the season, Moore seized a starting job in late January and held it most of the rest of the season. He shot a career-high 45.2 percent from 3-point range and was a stabilizing defensive force on the perimeter. Moore hit free agency at the right time, going from making the minimum in Chicago to a four-year, $34 million deal with the Pelicans.
Though Moore can serve as a third point guard, he's not a good enough playmaker to consistently play the point. He's more effectively used as a secondary ball handler who can be a threat spotting up, particularly from the corners. A league-average 3-point shooter entering last season (34.9 percent career), Moore was far more accurate in 2015-16 and New Orleans shouldn't expect a repeat. As long as Moore can settle in near the 37.9 percent projected by SCHOENE, he'll keep defenders honest.
Former teammates Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler endorsed Moore starting alongside them last season, presumably mostly because of his defensive capabilities. Moore plays bigger than his 6-foot-4 frame and is capable of defending shooting guards, though the Bulls defended much better as a team with him at point guard. With lots of guards who can defend both positions, Gentry should have the flexibility to cross-match defensively as necessary.
Langston Galloway
Position: Guard
Experience: 2 years
Age: 24
Scouting report
+ Sure-handed combo guard who excels defensively
+ Average 3-point shooter who's not afraid to fire away
+ Strong enough to defend shooting guards in addition to point guards
Analysis
When the Knicks had to pull their qualifying offer to Galloway for cap purposes, making him an unrestricted free agent, the Pelicans swooped in to sign the Baton Rouge native to a two-year, $10.6 million deal that allows him to return to the market next summer via a 2017-18 player option. Galloway will be 25 in December, so he doesn't have a ton of upside, but since going undrafted he has established himself as a solid backup at both guard spots.
Galloway isn't a natural or particularly daring point guard, but when he played the position last season, he averaged an acceptable 5 assists per 36 minutes with an assist-to-turnover ratio better than 4:1 according to NBAwowy.com. Galloway does an excellent job of limiting mistakes with the ball in his hands and can also play without it. He has shot around league average from 3-point range his two NBA Seasons, making 1.4 a game as a rookie and nearly one a game last season as a reserve. Still, Galloway's true shooting percentage has yet to crack .500 because he's a poor 2-point shooter (42.3 percent career) and rarely gets to the free throw line.
Defensively, Galloway is a plus. He ranked 15th in defensive RPM among shooting guards last season. Really, Galloway is better suited to defend point guards since he's just 6-foot-2 and moves his feet well enough to stay in front of quick opponents. But Galloway has a low center of gravity and is hard to move in the post, so he can hold his own at shooting guard. If this package sounds a lot like Moore, it should. If Gentry plays the two together off the bench, they should be a good defensive combo who may not be dynamic enough to score efficiently.
Tyreke Evans
Position: Guard
Experience: 7 years
Age: 26
Scouting report
+ Huge lead ball handler who lost most of 2015-16 to knee injuries
+ Volume scorer who creates shots for himself more than others
+ Poor decision maker who hasn't harnessed tools defensively
Analysis
Evans has undergone three surgeries on his right knee since May 2015, and the indications about his progress over the summer weren't encouraging. After the first surgery, Evans knocked knees with Kendrick Perkins in training camp and underwent surgery No. 2. He returned at the start of December to play 25 games as a starting point guard only to be shut down before the All-Star break for yet another surgery. During a July appearance on the Lowe Post, Gentry told ESPN's Zach Lowe that Evans "won't be ready for the start of the season" and that his eventual return would be "icing on the cake."
When Evans was healthy, Gentry used him as a starting point guard, a role in which he's miscast. As good a ball handler and shot creator as he is, Evans doesn't really make plays for teammates, though he did average a career-high 7.7 assists per 36 minutes in that role. Still, Davis struggled alongside Evans, who would probably make more sense this season as a bench creator alongside spot-up guards Galloway and Moore. Evans did play well when he was on the court last season aside from struggling to finish. He shot a career-low 50.9 percent inside three feet, per Basketball-Reference.com, but benefited from a career-best 38.8 percent accuracy (up from 28.8 percent career) on 85 3-point attempts.
Never much of a defender, Evans may have increased trouble defending smaller, quicker opponents after another knee surgery. Eventually, small forward may become his natural position. While Evans gives up height at the position, he's more than strong enough to defend most small forwards and a capable rebounder.
Dante Cunningham
Position: Forward
Experience: 7 years
Age: 29
Scouting report
+ Undersized power forward who played extensively on the wing
+ Added 3-point range last season, but at below-average percentage
+ Proved capable of guarding opposing wing players
Analysis
The only Pelicans player to see action in more than 73 games last year (he played 80), Cunningham was a reliable presence who started 46 times because of the team's rampant injuries. However, nobody stands to lose more playing time due to New Orleans' offseason additions and potentially improved health. Cunningham may end up battling for backup minutes at his natural power forward position.
Almost exclusively a power forward with his first four NBA teams, Cunningham played on the wing most of the last two seasons because the Pelicans were so thin there. That fit was more natural last season as Cunningham made 55 3-pointers, more than he had attempted in his first six seasons (48). Alas, Cunningham made them at just a 31.6 percent clip, though that's still a better effective field goal percentage (47.4 percent) than he shot on the long 2-pointers they replaced (43.3 percent beyond 16 feet last year, per Basketball-Reference.com, and 41.2 percent career). Cunningham virtually never creates his own shot; 167 of his 186 field goals (89.8 percent) were assisted.
Cunningham actually proved a fairly adept wing defender, showing the ability to deny opponents the ball despite playing most of his career in the post. But his rebounding, never a strength, reached anemic levels at small forward. The 6-foot-8 Cunningham grabbed defensive boards less frequently than 6-foot-1 teammate Tim Frazier. If he's to return to power forward, Cunningham will have to focus on rebounding.
Alexis Ajinca
Position: Center
Experience: 6 years
Age: 28
Scouting report
+ Huge, slow-moving backup center
+ Post-up threat who struggled in role last season
+ Deterrent at the rim who's ill-suited to defending on perimeter
Analysis
The 7-foot-2 Ajinca is in the awkward position of being a backup center on a team that should be playing Davis in the middle on the regular basis. As a result, he picked up a handful of DNP-CDs last season, though his minutes per game (14.6) were actually up slightly overall from 2014-15 (14.1).
Because of his size, the Pelicans will occasionally play through Ajinca in the post. He thrived in that role in 2014-15, shooting 58.2 percent on post-ups, good for second among players with at least 50 such attempts, per Synergy Sports tracking. Last year, the running hooks and turnarounds Ajinca likes to shoot over smaller defenders weren't falling, and he shot just 37.5 percent in the post. Ajinca catches the ball well on the move, so he's a pick-and-roll target, though it takes him a while to roll to the basket. He also spent more time last season in the high post, attempting more than a third of his shots from beyond 16 feet according to Basketball-Reference.com. Ajinca shot a solid 46.8 percent on those attempts and showed occasional ability to find teammates as a passer.
After Davis, Ajinca was New Orleans' second-best rim protector last season, allowing opponents just 48.9 percent shooting inside five feet according to SportVU tracking on NBA.com/Stats. The challenge is getting in position to contest shots since Ajinca doesn't cover ground quickly. His lateral mobility is also an issue defending pick-and-rolls and on the perimeter. If this sounds a lot like Asik, well it should, and Ajinca also has three guaranteed years left on his contract, albeit at a reasonable $5 million a year.
Terrence Jones
Position: Forward
Experience: 4 years
Age: 24
Scouting report
+ Skilled power forward who has had a tough time staying on the court
+ High-percentage finisher who also has notional 3-point range
+ Unfocused defender who makes bad gambles and struggles one-on-one
Analysis
There are bad contract years, there are awful contract years and then there's Jones' 2015-16. In June 2015, I suggested that Jones was in line for a deal paying him eight figures a year as a restricted free agent. After missing 49 games in 2014-15, Jones mostly stayed healthy last season, but he was so ineffective that he went from starter on opening night to out of the Houston Rockets' rotation entirely after March 1. The Rockets declined to make a qualifying offer to Jones, who ended up signing a one-year deal for the minimum ($1,050,961) with New Orleans to compete for minutes at power forward. See, I was only one figure off.
Because of the skills he displayed in his first seasons, Jones is a fascinating, no-cost gamble for the Pelicans. Still just 23, he averaged 16.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per 36 minutes as a full-time starter in his second NBA season. Jones will have to prove he can still finish like he did then after making just 63.8 percent of his attempts inside three feet last year, per Basketball-Reference.com, down from 72.5 percent his first two seasons. Back then, Jones looked likely to develop 3-point range, having made 31 triples at a 30.7 percent clip, but his progress in that regard has stalled.
Jones has also failed to progress as a defender, always a limitation. His reactions are a half-second slow and Jones has a tendency to fall for pump fakes. As an individual defender, Jones has a tough time against quality post players and requires double-team help. He also slipped on the defensive glass last season. As a result, Jones' minus-3.6 defensive RPM last season was worst among all big men.
Tim Frazier
Position: Guard
Experience: 2 years
Age: 25
Scouting report
+ D-League star who translated his production to NBA with Pelicans
+ Waterbug point guard who's adept at driving and dishing
+ Competes defensively (and on glass) despite being undersized
Analysis
The D-League's MVP as a rookie in 2014-15, Frazier had been ineffective in limited NBA opportunities in Philadelphia and Portland before signing in New Orleans as an injury replacement late last year. Filling in for the injured Jrue Holiday, Frazier averaged 29.3 minutes over 16 games and put up 16.1 points, 9.2 assists and 5.4 rebounds per 36 minutes. He parlayed that into a new two-year, $4 million deal as a restricted free agent.
The 6-foot-1 Frazier is tough to contain off the dribble, particularly in the spread pick-and-roll Gentry's offense favors. Because of his size, Frazier probably should struggle to finish around the basket, though he made a respectable 61.7 percent of his attempts inside three feet with the Pelicans, per Basketball-Reference.com. Either way, Frazier is adept at driving to set up teammates. Just five regular players handed out assists more frequently per minute than Frazier did in New Orleans. He also counters shot blockers with an in-between game consisting of deep floaters and runners. The most obviously fluky aspect of Frazier's success was his 41.9 percent 3-point shooting, given he shot 37 percent from downtown in the D-League. The rest should be sustainable.
Frazier's size will always be an issue defensively, but he does what he can to compensate. He'll aggressively front when bigger opponents post him up, and he's an active ball hawk. Frazier is also an incredible rebounder for his size who averaged 9.1 rebounds in eight D-League games last season.
Alonzo Gee
Position: Forward
Experience: 7 years
Age: 29
Scouting report
+ Athletic wing player who's outstanding in transition
+ Limited shooting range cramps floor in half-court offense
+ Puts in effort defensively but hardly a stopper
Analysis
Signed for the veteran's minimum as a free agent, Gee ended up starting 38 games and playing more than 1,600 minutes because of the Pelicans' rash of injuries on the wing. He opted out and got a tiny raise to $1.4 million on a new one-year contract. With New Orleans loading up in free agency, Gee may be pushed to a more appropriate role as a depth piece on the wing.
The high-flying Gee is one of the league's better transition scorers. Per Synergy Sports tracking on NBA.com/Stats, 31.1 percent of Gee's plays came in transition, the third-highest rate among players with at least 20 games. Gee had a 67.5 percent effective field goal percentage in transition, as compared to 49.4 percent on all other plays. In the half-court offense, Gee's non-shooting (he shot 28.3 percent from 3-point range, attempting just 60 all year) makes him a huge liability. Gee has limited gravity, allowing his defender to help against other teammates.
Gee is closer to fulfilling the "D" aspect of the 3-and-D role. At 6-foot-6, he's a little undersized against bigger small forwards but does a nice job as an individual defender. Gee is also a threat in the passing lanes.
Cheick Diallo
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
Age: 19
Scouting report
+ Highly-touted prospect who struggled to get on the court at Kansas
+ Primarily a post scorer in college but can also play in high post
+ Plus shot blocker who must bulk up to play center in NBA
Analysis
A top-10 prospect in ESPN's Recruiting Nation rankings entering Kansas, Diallo failed to earn Bill Self's trust and ended up playing just 202 minutes total in Lawrence before declaring for the draft after his freshman season. The Pelicans decided to gamble on his talent, trading up to take Diallo with the No. 33 pick and signing him to a three-year minimum contract with the first two guaranteed.
How to explain Diallo playing so well in prep basketball showcases against other elite talents but not at Kansas? The Mali native didn't come to the United States until age 16, so he has limited structured basketball experience and tends to play better in a free-flowing style (like the NBA summer league, where he also played well). Self's structured offense was harder to pick up. At this point, Diallo is probably most comfortable in the low post, but he also showed the ability to step out and make a jumper and even handle the ball at times.
Given Diallo's impressive shot blocking at Kansas (11.9 percent of opponents' 2-point attempts), New Orleans would probably be wise to develop him as a center. He's a good enough rebounder to hold his own at the position but will have to add strength to deal with NBA 7-footers. Diallo has some time, since he's unlikely to play much if at all as a rookie.
Robert Sacre
Position: Center
Experience: 4 years
Age: 27
Scouting report
+ Bruising, unskilled 7-footer who's rated below replacement
+ Below-average shot blocker and poor rebounder
Analysis
After four seasons with the L.A. Lakers, Sacre hit free agency this summer and found little interest, having played just 320 minutes last year. He eventually took a summer contract to attend training camp with the Pelicans, who already have 15 guaranteed contracts on the roster and will surely cut him. At least it's a homecoming of sorts for Sacre, whose father (former NFL tight end Greg LaFleur) is from Louisiana. Both of Sacre's parents played at nearby LSU, where his mom (Leslie Sacre) played hoops.
Besides NBA size, Sacre doesn't have a lot to recommend him at this point. He has shot just 43.7 percent on 2-point attempts in his career and is a weak defensive rebounder. Sacre's shot blocking has slipped in recent seasons to the point where it's not good enough for a center. He is an excellent screen setter and good post defender.
Chris Copeland
Position: Forward
Experience: 4 years
Age: 32
Scouting report
+ Shooting specialist whose shots haven't gone in lately
+ Weak rebounder and defender
Analysis
Reunited with his former Knicks teammate Jason Kidd in Milwaukee, Copeland lasted just 24 games and 156 minutes before being waived after the trade deadline. Unable to secure guaranteed money this offseason, Copeland took a summer deal with New Orleans and will try to impress another team in preseason.
Copeland owes his NBA career to his shooting, which makes it problematic that he has made just 30.5 percent from 3-point range the last two seasons after hitting better than 40 percent of his attempts his first two years. If Copeland isn't making shots, it's hard to keep him on the court because he's a defensive liability and a terrible defensive rebounder, particularly as a power forward.
Shawn Dawson
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
Age: 22
Scouting report
+ Rising Israeli star getting his first opportunity in NBA training camp
+ Occasional shot-blocking threat from wing; developing 3-point range
Analysis
Born in Israel to American basketball export Joe Dawson, the younger Dawson has grown through the Israeli youth ranks into one of the domestic league's best players, putting him on the NBA's radar. After leading Maccabi Rishon Lezion to last year's championship, he played sparingly for the Washington Wizards' summer-league team before signing a summer contract with the Pelicans for training camp.
Dawson's Israeli statistics translate near replacement level in the NBA, so he has got a chance to stick at some point at age 22. The key for Dawson will probably be whether he can develop NBA 3-point range. He shot 34.7 percent from the shorter FIBA line last season, so it's reasonable for Dawson to get there. If so, he appears to have the requisite athleticism to defend in the NBA.