Pelicans and G Jose Alvarado Close to a Guaranteed Deal
The New Orleans Pelicans unearthed a gem from their Birmingham Squadron investment. Now it is a matter of when, not if, Jose Alvarado will get a full NBA contract towards the end of the season. Alvarado fully deserves the recognition. He has proven he is an NBA-caliber guard capable of logging minutes for a playoff contender. Regardless of the contract, the Pelicans will be getting a deal.
Alvarado is currently making less than $460,000 on his two-way contract. He still lacks a consistent shot but understands he is at his best getting to the rim and finding teammates. He is pugnacious in the paint, making 33 of 60 attempts when he ventures close to the rim, but cannot make his free throws (68%) consistently to make teams pay for fouling him.
His nonstop effort and commitment to high-energy basketball keep him close to the action. He is averaging 5.7 points, 4.1 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in the last ten games. He only made 39% of his shots and just 26.9% of his three-pointers but he was dealing with a hand injury for a few games.
Alvarado keeps good company in the record books as well. Baron Davis and Chris Paul are the only other players in franchise history with a stat line of at least 16 points, 10 assists, and 6 steals. He was also the world’s greatest teammate while waiting for his turn at the end of the bench. Plugging him into the lineup has helped keep the Pelicans in the NBA Playoffs conversation.
“Jose is a spark for us,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green told reporters after a tough loss to the Boston Celtics. “Whenever he touches the floor, good things happen. He brings energy, he defends. He is getting more comfortable with the offense. He is getting guys involved. We see a ton of positives from him.”
Look no further for evidence of Alvarado’s positivity, and his team’s love for him, than his interview after a win in his hometown Madison Square Garden over the New York Knicks. Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart had given Alvarado's family tickets to the game.
B-Ball Index rates Alvarado as one of the most effective rookies this season judging by their LEBRON system. Replacing Alvarado’s production would cost more than just retaining Alvarado. His per 36 production is better than former New Orleans first-round pick Austin Rivers, who is now 29 and making $1.7 million. Jose can replace former Pelican Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s per 36 numbers for less than half of the salary cap hit.
Jose Alvarado's rise up the ranks fits David Griffin’s family vision and represents completely the team’s ‘Won’t Bow Down’ mantra. He also fits on the cap sheet as a great piece of roster-building business that will pay off for years. According to 538.com, Alvarado has shades of Fred VanVleet in his profile and will be worth over $21.5 million in the next five years. New Orleans can sign Alvarado to a four-year deal worth approximately $8 million.
The New Orleans Pelicans have nine more games of Alvarado on a two-way deal. All signs point to a deal being just days away, putting him in line to sign a deal the last week of the season. No matter how the playoff race unfolds for New Orleans, it is a sweet ending to Alvarado’s long road to his NBA dream.
