Similar to the Wizards or Heat, the Pelicans were able to obtain top talent at the center position, as well as other talented rookies in the 2024 NBA Draft. While each rookie has strengths, they also have questions in their games that they must address. Here is a question that each rookie on the New Orleans Pelicans has to answer during the 2024-25 NBA season.
1 Question For Each New Orleans Pelicans Rookie
Yves Missi
Question: Can Missi Be An Immediate Contributor To The Pelicans?
The Pelicans selected Yves Missi with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The former Baylor center is an extremely athletic big man who excels at rim running and protecting the paint. Missi utilizes his innate athleticism to be a powerful lob threat and dunker on the offensive end. On the defensive end, Missi has the quickness and bounce to guard the paint against various opponents. Furthermore, Missi is a solid rebounder and screener. While Missi didn’t have a standout performance at Summer League, he did have moments where his potential shined. He had a couple of games where he shot efficiently and grabbed many rebounds. Furthermore, Missi had many athletic highlights on both ends of the court. Overall, Missi has incredible athleticism and potential that needs to be refined further.
Given the center situation for the Pelicans, Missi has a clear pathway for minutes. However, Missi is still extremely raw as a player and will need time to adjust to the NBA. So, the biggest question for Missi is whether he can be an immediate contributor to the Pelicans. For Missi to be an immediate contributor, he must prove that he looks like he belongs out on an NBA court. Missi must look like playing against NBA-level talent isn’t too much for him and that he is comfortable out on the court. Not only that, but his defense must translate quickly against real NBA players. If he can do that, Missi will be a real contributor for a Pelicans team that is in desperate need of centers. It won’t be easy for Missi, but the reward for succeeding will be great for both Missi and the Pelicans.
Antonio Reeves
Question: Can Reeves Prove That He Won’t Be a Defensive Liability?
The Pelicans obtained the draft rights to Antonio Reeves, the 47th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, in a trade with the Magic. As a player, Reeves is a talented offensive guard who can score on all three levels. He is a crafty scorer around the basket, has a solid mid-range game, and can knock down shots from deep. Despite a disappointing performance at Summer League, Reeves did have times when he showed off his scoring ability. In one game in particular, Reeves scored 18 points and knocked down four threes in doing so. Reeves knows how to flat-out score the ball, and it will be his way of making an impact in the league.
While Reeves is gifted on the offensive end of the floor, his abilities on the defensive end are lacking in comparison. He doesn’t rack up many steals or blocks, and he can struggle to defend against quicker or stronger guards along the perimeter. Additionally, Reeves can be caught sleeping when defending off the ball. Due to this, the biggest question for Reeves is whether or not he can prove that he won’t be a defensive liability. Despite his shortcomings defensively, Reeves does play defense with effort and energy. If Reeves can use that energy to continue to improve as a defender, then being at least neutral defensively isn’t out of the question for Reeves. It will make him a lot more playable and will allow him to be placed in various lineups. For his rookie season, it is up to Reeves to prove that he won’t be a defensive liability.
Karlo Matkovic
Question: Can Matkovic Be An Immediate Contributor To The Pelicans?
The Pelicans selected Karlo Matkovic with the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Despite getting drafted, Matkovic stayed overseas until he came to play for the Pelicans G League team, the Birmingham Squadron, in 2024. During Summer League, Matkovic signed a multi-year deal with the Pelicans. As a player, Matkovic is an athletic big man who operates well in the low post and as a roller. Additionally, he is a decent passer and has some upside as a shooter. Matkovic is also a solid defender and a very good rebounder on both ends of the floor. At Summer League, Matkovic stood out for his performance against the Spurs, in which he scored an efficient 25 points.
As made clear with Missi, the Pelicans are in desperate need of center play. Thus, the same question posed to Missi will be the same for Matkovic, which is whether he can be an immediate contributor to the Pelicans. He has the skill set to find success with the Pelicans as a backup center. If he can find success and be an immediate contributor, then he will have a clear role and many minutes to fill. Furthermore, it will make him more valuable as a player, which could set up a future payday. Time will whether Matkovic will be successful, but it will pay dividends if he is.
