As the league restarts in Orlando in July, the expectation is that the league will allow for expanded rosters. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday that the league is eyeing an expansion to 17 roster spots, two more than the current 15.
“Teams are allowed to bring as many as 17 players to Orlando, including 14 or 15 players on a standard NBA contract and additional two-way spots.”
While the wording can lead to confusion, the consensus seems to be that the league will allow two more players per team on top of the two-way players. This would allow teams more players to practice with and more players to play with to take some of the physical strain off the current roster of players and, ideally, reduce injuries.
The Pelicans already have a short-staffed roster with Darius Miller out for the season with an Achilles injury. If the NBA does expand the rosters, New Orleans could likely be one of the first teams to take advantage of that opportunity.
But which players are still available and who might be the players the Pelicans would target? Here’s a look at five players New Orleans could sign for the league’s restart.
5. Corey Brewer
The catch with the free agents currently available is that each player comes with some sort of glaring fault or, otherwise, they wouldn’t have been a free agent when the season came to a halt.
Therefore, it’s best to find one area the free agents can contribute and go from there. With Corey Brewer, the Pelicans would be adding a veteran free agent that already has a relationship with the former Lakers in Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart.
4. Lance Stephenson
Like Brewer, Stephenson spent time with the Lakers and developed a relationship with them. Unlike Brewer, Stephenson still can offer something positive on the basketball court. Stephenson spent the season in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and averaged 26.7 points per game.
The downsides with Stephenson are still glaring. He shot 30% in the CBA from three-point range and is a career 31.5% shooter from range. He also is a ball-stopper, which could make him difficult to fit into some teams. But as a bench option for the Pelicans, there could be worse.
3. Iman Shumpert
Iman Shumpert can bring the same type of veteran leadership that Brewer can while also bringing something on the court as well. The Pelicans’ biggest depth issues come on the wing and Shumpert can offer some help there.
Shumpert played 13 rather uneventful games for the Brooklyn Nets this season, meaning he’s been in game shape and could step onto the court for eight games or more for the Pelicans.
2. JR Smith
Prior to the league coming to a halt, JR Smith nearly signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. That alone would likely make him the most valuable free agent on the market in the coming weeks.
Smith’s resume is well-known. He was a valuable shooter and starter on LeBron James’ Cavalier teams that made routine trips to the Finals. Even if those seasons are far in the past, the Pelicans have a need for shooting and Smith is the best one of those on the market.
1. DeMarcus Cousins
The boom-or-bust option. If healthy, DeMarcus Cousins is the best player on the open market, bar none. That is a big if, though. Coming off success major leg injuries, it’s uncertain if Cousins is healthy and if he’s looking to come back for the league’s restart.
If he is, he could be a valuable veteran big off the bench for the Pelicans that could blossom into a huge bonus. His time in New Orleans was a success in the past and though it may have needed poorly, that was largely under different management and those burned bridges could be mended.
