The New Orleans Pelicans missed out on acquiring a veteran center. Isaiah Stewart was traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Memphis Grizzlies, and all it took was three second-round draft picks. Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver absolutely should have jumped at this opportunity.
One of the most glaring holes on the Pelicans roster is at center. Right now, the only true center they have is Yves Missi, who could end up being their center of the future. However, right now Missi still needs time to develop.
This is why acquiring a guy like Stewart would have been a perfect setup for Stewart, Missi, and the Pelicans. Stewart isn’t necessarily a guy you start at center and play 35 minutes per game, but he is great at sharing the center role with another player whose skills complement his.
Isaiah Stewart is the center the Pelicans have been looking for
Stewart stands at just 6-foot-8, which is normally undersized for the center position. However, Stewart makes up for his lack of size with brute force and toughness. Stewart has no problem fighting down low in the paint with bigger centers. And he does a good job at it.
Stewart is also a good shot-blocker despite his height. In just 22 minutes per game last season, Stewart averaged 1.6 blocks.
Maybe the most obvious match between Stewart and the Pelicans is in his toughness. Dumars has been talking about wanting tough players, and Stewart is arguably one of the toughest in the league. Stewart obviously has his weaknesses. He isn’t a threat to shoot from the outside and is limited offensively. But the Pelicans don’t need an All-Star; they need someone who can rebound and defend at the center position for 20 to 25 minutes a game.
The toughest part about seeing Stewart traded to another team is what it took to acquire him.
The Grizzlies only had to part with three second-round draft picks, starting in 2029. This is not a lot for the production Stewart brings. It’s hard to imagine the Pelicans not being able to beat that offer.
Now, Dumars and Weaver must go back to the drawing board and see what other centers are out there. It’s not like Stewart was the only center available; there are options both in free agency and through a trade. However, some of these options will likely cost the Pelicans more.
The Pelicans already missed out on one center option; let’s hope Dumars and Weaver are working the phones to find a solution to their center problem.
