Pelicans-Chris Paul Reunion Could Work in New Orleans
It's the summertime, and a family reunion could be on the horizon for Chris Paul and the New Orleans Pelicans. Phoenix notified the 18-year veteran of his pending release from the team, sending the future Hall of Famer into free agency. Given their history of unsuccessful playoff runs and team struggles, it would be logical for the player and the Pelicans to come together again.
Here are several positive effects Chris Paul may have on the New Orleans Pelicans:
Leadership and Experience
Chris Paul is among the best point guards in NBA history. He possesses exceptional leadership skills, on-court intelligence, and a wealth of playoff experience. His presence would bring stability and guidance to a young Pelicans team, helping them develop and make better decisions on the court. For CJ McCollum, Paul in the lineup could allow him to use his strengths at shooting guard.
Mentorship for Young Players
The Pelicans have a promising young core with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Dyson Daniels. Having Chris Paul as a teammate would provide invaluable mentorship to these rising stars. Paul's knowledge of the game and work ethic would help them improve their skills and develop a winning mentality.
A Floor General and Playmaker
His primary role as a point guard is distributing the ball and creating opportunities for his teammates. He is an exceptional playmaker with excellent court vision and passing skills. With his ability to orchestrate the offense, the Pelicans' offense would likely become more organized, efficient, and cohesive.
Moreso, Paul has a great relationship with head coach Willie Green. He would speak his mind and show his talent on the court, especially in crunch-time situations.
Improved Team Chemistry
Paul is known for being a great teammate and building strong chemistry with his fellow players. His professionalism and unselfish style of play would help foster a positive team culture in the Pelicans' locker room that has recently taken hits in the media. The allegations from Christian Clark's article on Zion Williamson's and Brandon Ingram's failure to comply with the vice president of player care and performance, Aaron Nelson, leads to maturity questions regarding the young stars — if true.
Paul has been in the league for a very long time. There could be no better person on the market that could help with team cohesion on the court and in the locker room than Chris Paul.
Playoff Contention
Chris Paul has consistently led his teams to the playoffs. His addition to the Pelicans would significantly increase their chances of making a playoff push. His experience and ability to elevate his game in high-pressure situations could help the team compete against more formidable opponents and make a deep playoff run.
Signing Chris Paul to the New Orleans Pelicans would bring leadership, mentorship, improved playmaking, enhanced team chemistry, and increased playoff potential.
The odds are improving for New Orleans landing the veteran point guard at a +700 by BetUS. A lineup with Paul, Williamson, McCollum, Ingram, and Valanciunas could be an NBA nightmare for opposing coaches. The one caveat, of course, is avoiding injuries.
With the emergence of guards Trey Murphy and Dyson Daniels, Paul's minutes may be reduced. Last season, he averaged 32 minutes per game, down from his career average of 34.4 minutes per contest. His real value is in the playoffs, where playing time increases to 36.5 minutes per game.
For the Pelicans to seriously enter the Chris Paul sweepstakes, serious salary-cap considerations are a priority for executive vice president David Griffin, general manager Trajan Langdon, vice president of basketball operations Swin Cash, head coach Willie Green, and others in the Pelicans front office.
Paul will have more prominent suitors. Could he be the missing piece to the New Orleans Pelicans' puzzle?
We shall see.
