The New Orleans Pelicans have limited resources and roster spots available, which means they're going to need to be smart with who they bring in to round out their squad.
With two straight seasons under 30 wins, it's clear that this team has a ways to go before being contenders. Some of the big holes they still need to address is spacing all over the floor, physicality in front court and effort on defense.
One good thing about the remaining free agent market, is that most of them will at least answer for one of those issues. Here are some underrated names still remaining who could be of value for the Pelicans next year:
This coaching staff has said repeatedly that they are focused on getting the defensive side of the ball together before working on the offense. Agbaji would match that goal well. He hasn't been the most dynamic scorer to begin his career, but he has had great defensive impact. The Brooklyn Nets were 3.9 points better on defense per 100 possessions with Agbaji on the court.
The former Kansas Jayhawks star would probably still be considered a three-and-D wing, though his shooting is inconsistent. He shot 26.6% on 2.1 attempts per game last year, but the before that he shot 39.9% on 4.0 attempts. If they can smooth out the offense while keeping the defense, he would be a great find.
Watford would be best described as a jack of all trades, master of none. For a team working with limited resources, that might be exactly what they need. He is a 6-foot-9 point forward who rebounds well for his position. Just last year, he put up a 20-point, 17-rebound triple double against the Toronto Raptors. There were a couple more games in which he came close to a triple double.
The 25-year-old has had inconsistent results on defense, but should have the size and mindset to be molded by this coaching staff.
The pitch for Richards is simple. He can be relied on for rebounding and rim protection when he's on the court, which are two things that New Orleans needs. Richards would basically be a younger/more reliable version of Looney from last season. It's something the Pelicans needed, but didn't have a great fit before. Richards fits better.
