The New Orleans Pelicans continued to bolster their frontcourt, sending a clear message to Zion Williamson in a move that was rather predictable.
On Monday, the New Orleans Pelicans and Kevon Looney agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract. The Pelicans will be only the second NBA team that Looney has ever suited up for, as he spent the first ten seasons of his career with the Golden State Warriors.
Looney averaged 4.5 points and 6.1 rebounds for Golden State last season. While he is far from the floor-spacing big that the Pelicans need to maximize Zion Williamson, their moves so far this offseason suggest that they are not all-in on Zion.
Between drafting Derik Queen and signing Looney, the Pelicans have made it clear that they are willing to minimize Williamson’s role, and are building the exact same way a past Joe Dumars team did.
Rookie Derik Queen, like Looney and Yves Missi, is not a reliable shooter, and two of those three players will struggle to share the floor with Zion at any given time.
However, given Williamson’s history with injuries and off-court issues, Dumars is smart to expect him to miss significant time next season.
It appears as if New Orleans will enter the season with a rotation of Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, Trey Murphy II, Herbert Jones, and Missi, with Looney, Queen, Jeremiah Fears, Jose Alvarado, and Jordan Hawkins coming off the bench.
If Williamson plays, all the reason to celebrate, although Dumars is savvy enough to know that he can’t count on that. By signing Looney, the frontcourt will be crowded for Queen and Missi to develop, although Dumars did not draft Missi and might not be attached to the All-Rookie center.
Is Williamson on the trade block? Perhaps, although he is damaged goods at this point in his career, and the Pelicans have to prepare for a reality where they don’t get a lot for him.
While the Pelicans were not linked to Looney directly, Joe Dumars has a penchant for hoarding centers.
During his tenure as general manager of the Detroit Pistons from 2000-2014, he utilized six big men during the storied 2004 season, ending the year with five on the roster. In addition to that, he drafted starting caliber centers Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond just two years apart.
While his tenure leading the Sacramento Kings didn’t see him amass as much height as he did while heading the Pistons, one has to remember that Dumars, despite being a shooting guard, played in an era dominated by big men.
Dumars is also well aware of the impact culture can have on a team, and the Pelicans have been rudderless for most of their existence. By adding an accomplished champion, maybe his rebuild can get off to a good start.
