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Having not watched a ton of Pelican games, I was intrigued by Missi last year when he was drafted.

His counting stats looked good, but I’ve heard some say it didn’t tell the whole story.

Can he be an effective starter as early as this season? Or is his defense too far behind at this point?

He’s really really intriguing. He was a rookie big last year, so most things are just because of being a rookie at this point in time. Rookie bigs aren’t good.

What surprised me about him had to do with his screen setting. He does a great job of positioning and sealing guys. He’s super athletic, with great flashes of rim running and rim protecting. And he was a really good offensive rebounder.

Remember too, everyone! was hurt last year, so
Impossible to judge fully.

Concerns mostly have to do with his finishing at the rim and overall offensive ceiling. It’s just tough when a starter scores less than ten points. He needs to catch the ball and finish better on lob situations. He’s still fairly new to basketball and was a rookie, so defensive positioning can be an issue. He needs to get bigger (and he has some already).

He’s ahead of schedule, but no guarantee he stays that way. Right now I think he’s a bottom quarter starting center. But with time, I definitely think he’s can move up those rankings.

I think we all laugh at the Pels but the Missi pick was great.

All the more reason to really 2nd guess trading their '26 FRP for Queen.

Wanted him on the Lakers

mg wrote:All the more reason to really 2nd guess trading their '26 FRP for Queen.

Queen will be long term replacement for Zion. He’s not going to be a five IMO.

Looks like a guy that could stick. If he becomes a good help defender and can anchor a defence reasonably well he will be fine. Definitely agile enough to be a modern center, sneaky strong IMO, seems to be confident in his handle. I don't see him ever being more than a 4th option on offense, so it will really be his defence that determines his peak.

He can be a bit hit or missi

I think he's ok, I don't think he's going to be an NBA starter but a useful backup.

Pelicans team isn't too bad tbh. I think they will surprise people if they can get a string of good health. They can be a playoff team.

PG: Poole | Alvarado | Murray
SG: Herb | Fears
SF: TM3 | Hawkins
PF: Zion | Bey | Matkovic
C : Queen | Looney | Missi

Ceiling is a top 15 C in the league.

Floor is a good backup C.

Can set screens and has hints of being able to be a great defender so he's gonna at least get backup big money for the next 10 years if he just kinda steadily improves a little every year

The only Pel who is worth more than he cost except maybe Trey and arguably Herb Jones

mg wrote:All the more reason to really 2nd guess trading their '26 FRP for Queen.

Honestly think they're going for a Cousins/Davis facsimile.

zimpy27 wrote:I think he's ok, I don't think he's going to be an NBA starter but a useful backup.

Pelicans team isn't too bad tbh. I think they will surprise people if they can get a string of good health. They can be a playoff team.

PG: Poole | Alvarado | Murray
SG: Herb | Fears
SF: TM3 | Hawkins
PF: Zion | Bey | Matkovic
C : Queen | Looney | Missi

I think you'd have to ignore like 10 other teams in order to consider the Pelicans a playoff team.

zimpy27 wrote:I think he's ok, I don't think he's going to be an NBA starter but a useful backup.

Pelicans team isn't too bad tbh. I think they will surprise people if they can get a string of good health. They can be a playoff team.

PG: Poole | Alvarado | Murray
SG: Herb | Fears
SF: TM3 | Hawkins
PF: Zion | Bey | Matkovic
C : Queen | Looney | Missi

Zion good for half the year… this is probably a bottom dweller but nice the names seem peppy

zimpy27 wrote:I think he's ok, I don't think he's going to be an NBA starter but a useful backup.

Pelicans team isn't too bad tbh. I think they will surprise people if they can get a string of good health. They can be a playoff team.

PG: Poole | Alvarado | Murray
SG: Herb | Fears
SF: TM3 | Hawkins
PF: Zion | Bey | Matkovic
C : Queen | Looney | Missi

First i need to say i was against this team competing this year, since its way to early for Fears and Queen, but now they are forced to compete to somehow make their GM not look dumb.
If they want to compete, they cant start Queen. Queen has to be backup 4 and start if Zion goes down(which he will for minimum 15-20 games, if its more then that, there is no competing). Imagine defense with Pool, Zion and Queen on the floor, Wizards could score 130 on them every night.

I was for developement season and wanted to throw Fears in starting lineup but that is sadly not happening. Knowing Willie Green this will be rotation if everyone is healthy on day one.

PG: Poole/Alvarado/Fears
SG: Herb/Fears/Hawkins
SF: Murphy/Bey/Hawkins
PF: Zion/Queen/Matkovic
C: Missi/Looney/Queen

There is a chance Willie even goes with Looney over Missi but hopefully Looney gets sucked into New Orleans cuisine and sucks at the start of the season bcs he is out of shape(he was at the end of the last season).
Still cant believe how stupid Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver are, they are probably sent by the league to destroy the team so they can move it to Vegas.

As for the Missi. I think he will end up as borderline starter. He lacks a bit size to be true force at the rim, but he is fast and can jump. Think he is one of those players that will hit his ceiling very fast, probably even next year.

I think he's kinda like Clint Capela. I think he has better footwork to get himself to the front of the rim when being defended 5 feet out, but once there, he finishes about like Clint Capela. He'll get his own board, though; it'll be chill. I see him having a career about like that of a Clint Capela.

Due to a plague of injuries, it's kind of impossible to tell. The Pelicans fielded a G League team for half a season.