Preseason is still a few weeks out for the New Orleans Pelicans, but for Bryce McGowens, it already looms large.
For the established names, October is about getting the body right and the rhythm back. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III fall into that bucket. McGowens is in a different fight entirely: he’s trying to make sure his place in the rotation doesn’t slip away.
That’s a meaningful challenge on a roster crowded with guards and wings. Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, Jeremiah Fears, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and others all sit in the same lane, and the Pelicans also added Bennedict Mathurin, who has averaged 28 minutes per game in his career. There are only so many minutes to go around.
McGowens, though, gave New Orleans a reason to keep looking his way last season. He appeared in 42 games and put up 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per night.
The team turned his two-way deal into a three-year standard contract, a clear sign that his production mattered. He also knocked down a career-best 40% of his threes, which made him one of the more useful outside shooters on the roster.
That shooting matters even more now. The Pelicans have been searching for steady perimeter help, and that need only grows if Zion Williamson and Queen are expected to share major minutes.
Last season, New Orleans shot just 33% from deep in lineups that included both Queen and Williamson. McGowens helped lift that number in other combinations: when he played with Zion, the Pelicans shot 37% from three, and when he was on the floor with Queen, they hit 40% from distance.
A lot of McGowens’ value came from the simple stuff. Most of his offense came as a spot-up option, and he hit nearly 47% of his open threes last year. That kind of clean, ready-made spacing is exactly what this team has been looking for.
He may also benefit from the trade that sent Jordan Hawkins and Micah Peavy away in the move that cleared the way for Mathurin’s signing. Peavy had been leaned on late last season as a dependable perimeter defender, so that departure opens another door for McGowens.
There’s still work to do on the defensive end. McGowens weighs 190 pounds, and bigger guards can push him around. But his 6-foot-6 frame and 6’9 wingspan helped him set career highs in steals and blocked shots last season, giving him enough length to cover some of the gaps.
That’s where the preseason becomes important. The new coaching staff will get a longer look at him on both sides of the ball, and there’s a clear example of how a player with his build can stick: Jamahl Mosley’s Orlando Magic roster featured plenty of 6’5 to 6’7 guards and wings used in interchangeable ways, including former Pelican Jamal Cain.
Cain started on a two-way deal and turned his defense into real playoff minutes, averaging more than 17 minutes per game in the first round against the Detroit Pistons. McGowens isn’t Cain defensively, and Cain isn’t as polished on offense. If McGowens can land somewhere in the middle, Mosley will have every reason to keep him in the mix.
A strong preseason would go a long way toward locking in his spot. If the shot holds and the defense reaches the level Mosley wants, McGowens should have a real path to minutes this season.
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Dallas staff also includes Garrett Temple, Joe Boylan, Drew Williamson, Mody Maor, Rob Fodor and Sam Hershberger, with Nate Mitchell handling a dual role as assistant coach and head coach of the Texas Legends. Tyson Chandler and Quincy Acy are staying in player development roles. Greens addition gives May a veteran NBA presence on the bench, while in New Orleans it adds another familiar link to a recent era that still resonates with the fan base. [Read more 🡒]