In his last year of contract with the Pelicans, Jonas Valanciunas held the house last season with 79 games played out of 82, and a 5th career “double-double” average.
However, its leaders have been looking to trade it since the evening of the Draft, and Mark Stein thus reports that he was offered to the Cavaliers. They’re not the only ones, but New Orleans executives had their sights set on Jarrett Allen.
Except that while he’s not completely untouchable, the Cavaliers are keen on their All-Star interior, and they haven’t followed through. Cleveland prefers to evolve with an athletic pivot with an intimidating profile, rather than with an older pivot, less airy, but capable of sanctioning from afar.
A lack of verticality in the racket
Result: the Pelicans would have changed their strategy, and it is now Kira Lewis Jr. who would have his exit ticket. The playmaker has only played 25 games this season, for less than 10 minutes per game. The presences of CJ McCollum and Jose Alvarado clearly prevent him from aiming better next season.
For now, the Pelicans’ offseason boils down to the arrival of Cody Zeller, from Miami, to replace Jaxson Hayes, who left for the Lakers. Like Jonas Valanciunas, Cody Zeller is no vertical freak, and it wouldn’t surprise us if the Pelicans continue to seek a leaping interior.
| Jarrett Allen | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | BRK | 72 | 20 | 58.9 | 33.3 | 77.6 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 8.2 |
| 2018-19 | BRK | 80 | 26 | 59.0 | 13.3 | 70.9 | 2.4 | 6.0 | 8.4 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 10.9 |
| 2019-20 | BRK | 70 | 27 | 64.9 | 0.0 | 63.3 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 9.6 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 11.1 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 63 | 30 | 61.8 | 31.6 | 70.3 | 3.1 | 6.9 | 10.0 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 12.8 |
| 2020-21 * | KEY | 51 | 30 | 60.9 | 31.6 | 69.0 | 3.1 | 6.8 | 9.9 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 13.2 |
| 2020-21 * | BRK | 12 | 27 | 67.7 | 0.0 | 75.4 | 3.2 | 7.3 | 10.4 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 11.2 |
| 2021-22 | KEY | 56 | 32 | 67.7 | 10.0 | 70.8 | 3.4 | 7.3 | 10.8 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 16.1 |
| 2022-23 | KEY | 68 | 33 | 64.4 | 10.0 | 73.3 | 3.3 | 6.5 | 9.8 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 14.3 |
| Total | 409 | 28 | 63.0 | 18.1 | 70.4 | 2.8 | 6.0 | 8.9 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 12.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
