Nickeil Alexander-Walker will get burn and shot opportunities off the bench
The New Orleans Pelicans have been hunting for a third scorer and they grabbed one during their week off, sending the Philadelphia 76ers' 2035 2nd round pick and their own 2036 2nd round pick to the Utah Jazz for 29 year-old wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
The veteran has a reputation as a scorer and drew most of his attention as a key player during his 3.5 years with the Toronto Raptors, though also played three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and had stints with the Spurs, Bulls, Kings, and Jazz.
"What we saw was an opportunity for a low-cost investment from an asset and salary cap perspective to give a guy a shot at becoming a consistent scoring threat with the second unit," said a Pelicans source. "This also allows us to move CHJ to his more natural SF position and improve our ballhandling and rebounding on the second unit without giving up too much defense."
New Orleans' coaching staff believes work can be done on NAW's shot selection to make him even more effective, noting his skill at 3 point range over the last few seasons. "There's a real opportunity to sculpt him into being the best possible microwave scorer he can be," said a coach.
In 21 games this season, NAW has averaged 9 points, shooting 41.1% from the floor and 47.1% from behind the arc, while stopping 83.8% of drives with a 0.85 PA/SF ratio as one of the few bright spots for a Utah team that has shocked CSL observers with their struggles in falling to 12th place in the West.
Meanwhile the Pelicans, resting after a 6-1 record since adding Jayson Tatum featured 6 straight 30+ point games by Tatum, including 57 against the Memphis Grizzlies and 44 against the Sacramento Kings, have used the break to add a player they're hoping can fill one of the biggest holes on the second team and provide injury insurance in case either Tatum or Tyrese Maxey get injured.
As the front office official observed, "He's also on a two year contract making the vet minimum. We've been keeping an eye on our cap number since we need to resign Maxey and Mark (Williams) this summer. He'll get an opportunity to show he can be a guy who deserves more than that on a winning team."
Other Notes
The Pelicans are currently 9th in the West, .002 behind the Denver Nuggets for the 8th seed and a guaranteed two shots at punching their ticket to the playoffs proper, and 3.5 games in front of the Oklahoma City Thunder who are in 10th place.
This trade likely also signals New Orleans bowing out of the market until at least the deadline, given the chemistry of their starting lineup, and the presence of three prospects they love in Scotty Pippen, Jr., Cedric Henderson Jr. and Olivier-Maxence Prosper in the second unit, a cheap multiyear contract in Aaron Wiggins, and two expirings in Goga Bitadze and Moses Brown at center.
