Willie Green getting good look at five potential Pelicans contributors in summer league

As the Las Vegas Summer League progresses and the players representing the New Orleans Pelicans compete, the battle for roster spots for the 2021-22 season is already well underway.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Devonte’ Graham, Josh Hart, Jaxson Hayes, Willy Hernangomez, Brandon Ingram, Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple, Jonas Valanciunas and Zion Williamson are solid in terms of holding down roster spots for the regular season.

That is, of course, barring any other trades.

That leaves five roster spots remaining, based on the 15-man roster limit.

Wenyen Gabriel certainly could fit into that mix.

That would leave four spots.

The Summer League version of the New Orleans Pelicans feature five legitimate roster spot players.

Those include Kira Lewis Jr., Didi Louzada and Naji Marshall, all returning for second seasons.

You can certainly add rookie draft picks Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones.

To have five likely roster players participating in the Summer League is a real plus.

So far, all five have done nothing to dispel the likelihood that they will be part of the 2021-22 Pelicans.

New Orleans improved to 2-0 in the Summer League with an 80-65 victory Wednesday evening.

Marshall, who proved to be a very solid two-way player last season, continues to show why.

Back on May 6, Marshall inked a three-year, $5.3 million deal with New Orleans, a fully guaranteed contract. Marshall played well for the Pelicans last season, averaging 8.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 37.5 percent from 3-point range in 16 games.

Wednesday evening, Marshall was the star, scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, sinking 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

Lewis was solid with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists, making 2-of-3 from 3-point range.

Coming off a brilliant 26-point performance in the Summer League opener, Murphy was solid with 10 points and six rebounds, displaying a nice floater. Despite missing all three of his 3-point attempts, Murphy will undoubtedly provide needed shooting for New Orleans this season.

Louzada scored eight points and made 2-of-4 from 3-point range, a welcome site for a player who is an excellent athlete and on-the-ball defender but a player who has not shot well in his young professional career.

Jones had seven points, two rebounds and two steals and is an excellent defensive player, a glue player for any team as he was at Alabama.

The only negative, aside from Murphy not making any triples, was the 19 turnovers Wednesday, including five by Marshall and three by Lewis.

The overall roster, at this point (August 11), certainly looks to be improved over the roster that New Orleans closed the 2020-21 season with.

Graham can replicate the production of Ball, including shooting. Murphy adds an additional shooter to compliment Ingram and Graham. Satoransky and Valanciunas are decent shooters from distance as well.

The presence of Marshall for a full season, along with Temple and Jones will clearly improve the defense.

Valanciunas is a clear upgrade offensively over Steven Adams.

Graham, Lewis and Satoransky provide play-making ability.

Green is getting an up close and personal look at the five likely roster players in Las Vegas.

As a new coach, it is valuable to get a head start by seeing what kind of players he has to go along with the veteran players returning this coming season.

Already, the vision is clear for Graham and Valanciunas to join Ingram and Williamson in the starting lineup next season. The other spot may be up for grabs but what will really be most interesting is to see how the other minutes are parceled out.

Alexander-Walker showed what he is capable when given the opportunity to start last season.

Satoransky will certainly play.

Marshall will no doubt figure in the mix.

Temple will certainly get on the floor.

Murphy will get his chance.

If Hart remains, he is the energizer bunny of the second unit.

Hernangomez is your traditional reserve center when you go that route.

That leaves the likes of Lewis, Louzada and Jones and Gabriel to prove themselves to try to get into the rotation.

It is a numbers game, to be certain.

Then again, things have a way of sorting themselves out.

Then again, another deal may be in the works, prior to the season.

Meanwhile, let’s enjoy watching the five players who can play in the NBA perform and entertain for a couple of games before the real roster battle begins in training camp.