Pelicans' Inactive Offseason, Mathurin Move

The New Orleans Pelicans, after a 26-win season, hired Jamahl Mosley but made few major moves before acquiring Bennedict Mathurin.

The New Orleans Pelicans, coming off a 26-56 season that placed them near the bottom of the standings, fired their coach and hired Jamahl Mosley away from Orlando. The franchise then entered a prolonged period of inactivity, making no first-round draft picks, no major free agency moves, and losing veteran center Kevon Looney. Sports Illustrated noted that after winning just 26 games, many expected sweeping personnel changes, but the team acted like it had just made the conference finals.

Questionable Roster Construction

Deep into the offseason, the Pelicans finally made a move, acquiring guard Bennedict Mathurin from the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $16 million deal. This addition has raised questions about the team's roster balance. The Pelicans' current squad already features Zion Williamson and Derik Queen, players who operate primarily near the basket.

Guards Dejounte Murray and Saddiq Bey also favor attacking the rim over perimeter shooting.

The team's sole reliable outside threat is Trey Murphy III. Herbert Jones, an All-Defensive team selection two years ago, has seen his three-point percentage crater to 31% over the last two seasons. The acquisition of Mathurin, a player who wants to attack the basket, does little to address this perceived weakness.

A Persistent Shooting Problem

Analysts point to a chronic lack of three-point shooting as a key issue for New Orleans. A report from Pelicans Debrief highlighted the concern, stating, "The one thing that always seems to elude the Pelicans is three-point shooting." The source notes that three-point shooting is not Mathurin's strongest skill. He shot 37% from deep in his sophomore season and replicated that in the first half of last season with the Indiana Pacers.

However, his percentage plummeted to an abysmal 20% after a move to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Injury History and Playoff Implications

Compounding the roster questions is a severe injuries history that rivals even the Warriors' noted issues. Dejounte Murray played only 14 games last season while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Zion Williamson playing 60 games is still considered a notable occurrence.

The source also humorously laments the shooting struggles of former Warrior Jordan Poole, who shot 33% from three-point range last season.

For the Golden State Warriors, who took two of three from New Orleans last season, securing victories in such fixtures is viewed as essential for playoff positioning. Even one misstep against a team like this can put a team on the bubble straight out of the sixth seed and into the play-in tournament, where the Warriors have historically struggled since its inception.

Source: Yahoo Sports