(Translator's Note: The author of this article is TA Pelicans team correspondent William Guillory, the content does not represent the translator's views.)
The long-awaited free market for Pelicans fans finally opened, and after waiting for two days they finally finished After the first signing (signed Willie Hernangomez), Griffin's management did not actually do much in the free agent signing.
But on the other front, the Pelicans made an explosive trade. They sent star guard Holiday to the Bucks. At the same time, according to the confirmation of the source, they also managed to get Adams from the Thunder. He also packaged George Hill from the Bucks, the 2023 first-round lottery protection pick from the Nuggets, Miller and other players to Oklahoma; at the same time, according to sources, Bledsoe Will eventually stay in New Orleans.
Previously, the Jazz took away Favors with a three-year $30 million contract, which created a vacuum in the center position of the Pelicans. Last season, Favors’ role in the Pelicans lineup was very obvious. Fern and the coaching staff realized that the team needed to reinforce the less "important" position in the league in the past decade-center.
With the addition of Adams, the Pelicans have been strengthened inside and the team's physical fitness has been further improved, and Adams has played for strong teams so far in his career. This lacks experience and sense of winning for the Pelicans. For young people, it is also a help. In the Thunder last season, Adams started 63 games, averaging 10.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, and he is only 27 years old now, although his appearance makes us think that he was in the league when the NBA was founded. Now...
has never averaged more than double digit rebounds per game during Adams' entire career. This seems unbelievable for a 6-foot-11 insider who weighs more than 265 pounds, but he is stout His size allows him to always make waves in the penalty area, grab offensive rebounds and finish the job inside.
Last season, Adams' offensive rebound rate was as high as 13.2%, which is higher than 95% of the insiders in the league. Think about the picture of him and Zion rushing to grab offensive rebounds together. It is simply a nightmare in the entire NBA.. . How much work does it take for the opponent to keep these two people from grabbing offensive rebounds?
Before the season timeout, the combination of Favors and Zion was very ideal. When the Pelicans put on a small lineup, their offensive method of rushing to grab offensive rebounds proved feasible through the game. After the Pelicans replaced Favors with Adams, their tactics of constantly fighting for offensive rebounds will only be more fierce.
When it comes to offense, Adams feels really soft. He may be one of the best big men in the league. According to statistics from the data website, last season Adams shot a high of 70 from the basket. %, this is the season with the highest shooting percentage in his career. At the same time, his support in the elbow zone (both ends of the free throw line) and low post is also very effective. Last season, he averaged a career-high 2.3 assists per game, and this is because the Thunder relied heavily on Paul to lead the team. Under the premise. In addition to the data mentioned above, Adams’ steals and blocked shots are also very eye-catching. Adams’s movement speed is sufficient to contain the opponent’s pick-and-roll offense. His strong body can also make it more difficult for opponents to attack the basket. In the pick and roll offense, Adams can provide a very thick wall for players who need screens, allowing opponents to experience the feeling of a sports car hitting the wall.
When the Pelicans have Adams on the inside, using his basketball IQ, skills and excellent physical fitness can help the team solve their old problems of easy defensive fouls on the inside. Van Gundy can definitely help the Pelicans build a set. "Abnormal" defensive system, because of his defensive philosophy, the defense of the penalty area is the most important part.
Dafan definitely knows what Adams can help the team, because which coach doesn't like this kind of all-rounder? But the current Pelicans' lineup has its own particularities, which leaves some worries about whether Adams can integrate smoothly. Part of
’s worry stems from the Pelican’s space problem. This problem appeared when Zion was paired with Favors, and the arrival of Adams did not solve this problem but may aggravate the problem. He may be even more serious than Favors. Need to occupySpace inside. It is indeed a bit troublesome for the team to have no shooting ability on the double inside line. I hope Dafan has a strategy to solve it.
Adams’ actual age is 27 years old, but his perimeter delays and slow movement problems were completely magnified in the playoffs last season. Although he is still a very good defender, he is still a very good defender compared to a few years ago. Peak state cannot be the same.
With the relative degradation of physical fitness, some of his key statistics have declined. Last season, his average points per game have fallen to 10.9 points, which is the lowest point of his entire career since the third year. At the same time, the average of 3.3 offensive rebounds per game was also down from the previous season's 4.9. Although these declines have a lot to do with the shock of the Thunder's lineup last season, this is also a point that cannot be ignored.
After entering the off-season, the Pelicans fans are most concerned about how the team brought the All-Star wing Ingram back to the lineup. On Saturday, the Pelicans provided Ingram with a qualification offer. There is no new contract with Ingram.
Adams’s contract is also worth paying attention to. He is about to enter the final year of his contract. The Pelicans will pay him $27 million in salary this season, which is a relatively large amount for a non-core player. Numbers, and his next contract probably won't have such a big number again. (According to the latest report, the Pelicans and Adams have renewed a two-year new contract worth 35 million US dollars in advance.)
believes that the Pelicans will eventually find a suitable way to solve the problem of Adams' next contract, and it will be able to let all In a way that everyone is satisfied, letting Adams leave as a free agent next offseason is not a particularly cost-effective deal. You have to know what kind of chips the Pelicans paid to get Adams.
Looking back to reality, the Pelicans' holding on to their money is coming soon. After all, Ball and Hart will become free agents next summer, so Adams, as a blue-collar insider who averages 10+10 per game, will be worth it. How much did the Pelican pay for him?
In the summer of 2021, multiple contracts in the Pelicans are about to expire. This is a free market where risks and opportunities coexist.
With the Pelicans about to have enough draft picks and space, they may have a chance to catch a big fish in the 21-year free market. But there is still a long time to get to this point. Looking at the moment, the most important thing the Pelicans need to do is to help Zion find a suitable inside partner. This partner needs to be in the prime of life and is willing to do all the dirty work. Done, so that people can see Zion’s amazing performances flying into the sky. The right candidate is Adams, and when the team asks him to give him enough physical confrontation, he can also make a wedding dress for the future star of the Pelicans, and he is also the kind of locker room leader who can quickly gain the trust of his teammates. . And his eclectic character fits perfectly with New Moon City.
Forever, the future of the Pelicans and Adams is still uncertain, but at the moment, Adams is the most suitable person for the Pelicans. He can improve the team's toughness for the Pelicans and bring a winning culture to the locker room.
Original: William Guillory
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