Pierre Jackson will play in Summer League for Pelicans but team doesn't sound high on him
Has the #FreePierreJackson movement finally reached the offices of the New Orleans Pelicans?
Well, yes and no, depending on how you read the tea leaves coming out of New Orleans on Monday. On the one hand, Jackson, who spent most of the season in the D-League and finished off in Istanbul, will be playing on the Pelicans' Summer League team this July.
However, head coach Monty Williams also sounded like a guy who isn't a believer in Jackson as a viable option at the NBA level, at least not without impressing more.
Mony on Pierre Jackson, "I've watched him the last few days. Has a lot of talent, can score in multiple ways. But he is small, so that is
— Michael McNamara (@McNamara247) June 2, 2014
always an obstacle. That could work in the D-League, but who knows if it will work in the league."
— Michael McNamara (@McNamara247) June 2, 2014
Here's the perceived issue with Jackson - he's only 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, and those listings might be generous.
He did enough at Baylor to be selected 42nd overall in the 2013 draft, but rather than signing in the NBA he signed in France, meaning the Pelicans maintained his rights without signing him, as is the case with international players. He then came back to the D-League, where he set the league ablaze by averaging 29.1 points, far more than anyone else.
So, he's proven in college and in the D-League that he can score, and as a second round pick he's unlikely to command much of a salary, but the head coach may not be a believer.
Add it up, and it sounds like Summer League could be a showcase for Jackson, allowing New Orleans to gauge his value on the trade market.