New Orleans Pelicans Sign Jalen McDaniels To A Deal

New Orleans Pelicans Sign Jalen McDaniels To A Deal

Yo, what’s going on guys? And Sham Shirania of ESPN is reporting that Jaylen McDaniels, Jada McDaniels brother, yes, if you guys didn’t know, Jaylen is a guy that, you know, in my opinion, I think is one of the more interesting players as a result of the two being very similar framed. And Jaylen being the guy who’s bounced around the NBA. He was the one who played at San Diego State while Jaden played at Washington. And Jaylen, he’s a guy who’s played started out with the Charlotte Horns as a second round pick. Sixers Raptors, then played for the Wizards on a 10day and for their G-League affiliate, the Capital City Go. And his brother Jaden is actually the younger brother by three years. Jaylen is older and but they’re very similar frame, 69, 190 lb. So to me, you know, the the thought right here, the Pelicans need bodies. He’s probably one of the better players or established players that they don’t have to, you know, hope that he’s going to figure out. He knows what to do in the NBA. And he’s a guy for who has career averages of 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds over the six NBA seasons he’s played. and being his best year was what I believe that year that last year in Charlotte before they traded him to the Sixers where he was averaging 11 points, almost five rebounds, two assists, one and a half steals a night, half a block on 32% from three and 45% from the field. That’s the thing is he’s like just below a league average three-point shooter, but he is a multi-def, you know, multi-positional defender that a team like the Pelicans would need. And being 6’9 and having a 7 foot plus wingspan, he has that good size and length paws. Either way, I think he’s someone who will make the hustle plays. He, you know, he does all the scrappy things that you like. He’ll draw charges, dive for a loose ball. He’s a plus perimeter defender. He’s got quick hands. He’s got good agility. He knows how to get down low. Finishes when he gets, you know, to the the rim. He’s has the athleticism to finish above the rim. And he can do a little bit of everything. Kind of a Swiss Army knife. Not as skilled as his brother, but, you know, very similar archetype. And to me, he’s somebody that if you look at the depth charts for a team like the New Orleans Pelicans, this is a team that, man, I mean, they traded their pick, so they’re they’re hoping to be good. But if you look at the squad, Jordan Pool, Jeremiah Fierce, Herb Jones. Well, I would think the starting lineup is probably going to be Jordan P, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, Eves Messi with Kavon Looney, Jeremiah Fierce, Jordan Hawkins, Jos Alvarado obviously now Jaylen McDaniels, Sadiq Bay, Micah Peavey. I love Carlo Matikovich. They have Hunter Dickinson, Bryce McGowens, and Trey Alexander on two-ways. So I I wonder how that’s all going. They also have Jayen Springer on an exhibit 10. So they have a bunch of NBA guys. This is a a roster of it’s a very hodgepodge roster, very thrown together, but having Jaylen McDaniels there gives them they need clearly reading this roster behind Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, and Trey Murphy. They don’t have really a true wing besides Micah Peavey and Sadiq Bay. Sadique Bay is coming off an injury and Sadiq Bay is more of a swingman. So is Micah Peavey. I mean, they’re big two guards who can play the wing. Same thing with Bryce McGowens, but Jaylen McDaniels and gives them an actual combo forward. There are no combo forwards on this team besides Zion and maybe Herb Jones, but I think Herb Jones and Trey Murphy are both more swingmen. So, to me, you finally get some extra help in terms of a combo forward. A guy who can play both the four and five, more of a Yeah. Or three and four. I mean, four and three. Holy crap. That’s a switch bag, a four and five, but a four and three or three four, which is a combo forward. And I think that’s what they they kind of just needed as to me, they were just with Jaylen McDaniels. I think that’s the the biggest thing is just getting another body out there and having the New Orleans Pelicans being able to improve the roster is huge. And this is a move that improves the roster because let’s be honest, the it was slim pickings for the free agents that remained that they all had questions. They were already established and having Jaylen McDaniels out there who was a guy who’s flashed it. And I think part of the problem was he’s just been on like he goes to the 76ers and didn’t really have a role. And that wasn’t his fault. It’s just one of those guys that when he’s on a bad team, people don’t give him credit for what he’s done on a bad team. So then when he goes on a good team and doesn’t get the opportunity, it just isn’t fair to judge it off of that because the role probably didn’t fit and the play style didn’t fit. So we don’t know what he truly looks like. By the way, I think this is a solid signing by the Pelicans. Let me hear your thoughts in the comments section. What do you think? because having a guy like Jaylen McDaniels now join the team, which I think in my opinion, having him join the team for the Pelicans, you know, we talked about the depth, but let’s just get right into the rest of it. First off, I do like him as a guy that Willie Green, who I don’t know why. I know Willie Green caught a lot of flack and the reason why he wasn’t fired mid-season by David Griffin for Jerome, not Jerome, James Bergo was due to the fact that his wife is best friends with Gail Benson, who’s the owner, and she didn’t want to do that to the wife allegedly. Either way, I think the Pelicans adding depth and versatility to their 43 position by signing Jaylen McDaniels, the six-year veteran, has already shown that he has that rangy, switchable defender who can contribute across multiple positions. He’s 6’9. We mentioned that earlier. And his athleticism, too, being able to fit well into what the Pelicans need. They have a lot of young guys, but they also have older guys. And I think that’s fine. And I know offensively this is a guy who’s only averaged like seven points and three and a half rebounds a game, just under two assists, just over one assist a game basically. And he’s carved out a career so far, providing reliable energy and hustle as a complimentary piece rather than being a primary option. His ability to cut, crash the glass and knock down the occasional spot up jumper off the catch and shoot makes him potentially an ideal role player alongside New Orleans Zion Williamson and company. Um, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is an exhibit 10 so that if he doesn’t make the team, they put him on the G- League Affilia and then after 60 days he gets that $50,000 bonus to make over $100,000. and Joe Dumar’s and Troy Weaver are seemingly looking like they value players who can thrive without needing high usage. And McDaniels track record so far aligns with that philosophy. He’s played with LaMelo, he’s played with Joel Embiid. All right, so he’s played in Toronto with Scotty Barnes. So this move I think also shows that the strategy right now for roster construction or what they addressed was shoring up on their forwards. Obviously injuries and inconsistency were a big reason. last year was a crap show. And I think having a guy like McDaniels who’s been able to show that he’s an adaptable, proven role player at times and obviously has some team first approach being the hustle energy guy. I think McDaniels comes to New Orleans with the opportunities to carve out meaningful minutes while complimenting Zion Williamson, Jordan Hawkins, Troy Murphy, Herb Jones, and the rest of the Pelicans core. So to me, I think having that approach is big due to the fact that this clearly fits what they need. He’s mobile. He fits Willie Green’s roster flexibility. And to me, I think that’s just some of the the biggest things that you can do when trying to go for that. And McDaniels, we mentioned, is kind of a niche role player who’s a lowmaintenance guy that he flashes enough offensively to be playable. and his calling card is being able to cover ground defensively, guard in space, and guard arguably 1 through four. And for a team that leans heavily on Herb Jones and obviously José Alvarado and Eves Messi for their defensive versatility, I think McDaniels offers some insurance and another option in those matchups. I think this also underscores how New Orleans is thinking about roster balance. injuries have forced the Pelicans in the past to miss time. So, to me, getting that is huge.

Free agent forward Jalen McDaniels is headed to the New Orleans Pelicans, per ESPN. McDaniels, who has averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds over his six NBA seasons, gives New Orleans more depth and length on the wing. We break down what this move means for the Pelicans and how McDaniels could fit into their rotation.

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