30 Days 30 Grades: Day 19: New Orleans Pelicans Off-Season Grade

Welcome to day 19 of the 30 day blog series titled "30 Days 30 Grades".  Today I am going to talk about Western Conference Southwest Division NBA team New Orleans Pelicans, and give their off-season grade.  Here are the four things I'm going to do, 1)  I'm going to give my Pelicans off-season grade, 2) I'm going to talk about New Orleans players added to the roster whether it be through the draft, trade or free agency, 3) I'm going to give a list of players subtracted from the Pelicans roster, and finally 4) I'm going to explain why I give the off-season grade that I give them.



Pelicans off-season grade:  A+




New Orleans Pelicans Players Added:  Russ Smith, Patric Young, Jimmer Fredette, John Salmons, Omer Asik

New Orleans Pelicans Players Subtracted:  Anthony Morrow, Jason Smith, Brian Roberts, Al-Farouq Aminu, Greg Stiemsma, Scotty Hopson, Alonzo Gee, Melvin Ely, Omri Casspi

Why did I give the New Orleans Pelicans an A plus?  I believe that the pickup of Omer Asik is huge for this team. Last year Asik was on the Rockets and that didn't work with him and Dwight Howard.   Asik is a top 20 starting center in the NBA.  I believe that Omer Asik the 7 foot center will take pressure off of up and coming rising star power forward Anthony Davis.  If you think only having Davis at the rim is dangerous picture both Asik and Davis send back an opposing teams shots.  Last year for the Houston Rockets Omer Asik averaged 5.8 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, shot 53% from the field and  improved his free throw percentage from 56% to 61%.  Asik will improve his scoring this year because of the chance to finally get to start and not be stuck behind Dwight Howard or having to play power forward in Houston.  I also have to give an A+ for the Pelicans for not trading Ryan Anderson to the Rockets last year, when I kept saying that the Rockets should try and go for Ryan Anderson. Way to keep Ryan Anderson and to acquire Asik as well.  I like that the Pelicans acquired veteran wing man John Salmons. Salmons shot better from three last year than he did from two.  Last year John Salmons scored 5.4 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game and 2 assists per game. Jimmer Fredette is an interesting addition to this team. Fredette is known for scoring so he is a liability on the defensive end.  Last year Jimmer shot 46 % from the field and 42% from three.  In the 2014 NBA draft the Philadelphia 76ers drafted six foot guard Russ Smith  with the 47th pick  and then traded him to the Pelicans for Pierre Jackson.  I think Russ Smith is a solid choice for the Pelicans. I don't know much except what little I read about him. I read that he was a solid defender in college.  According to the 2014-2015 ESPN Pelicans Depth Chart he will be the first guy to come off of the bench when Jrue Holiday sits down. Here is the link to that depth chart http://espn.go.com/nba/team/depth/_/name/no/new-orleans-pelicans . So I can't wait to see how Russ Smith plays for the Pelicans.  Undrafted 6 foot 9 big man Patric Young out of the University of Florida was signed by the Pelicans.  I can't wait to see him play.  In 2014 Patric Young won SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Could there be a three headed monster in the post for the New Orleans Pelicans with Omer Asik, Anthony Davis and Patric Young?  Stay tuned this season to find out. I personally am excited for this team this off-season. Do you agree with the grade I gave the Pelicans for their off-season?  What grade would you give them?  Send me your comments. Thank you for reading Pro Basketball Hoops Land.  The blog where you can read articles, send comments and purchase pro basketball merchandise of your New Orleans Pelicans or other NBA teams.