The New Orleans Pelicans officially announced the two-way deal with former Kansas basketball star Hunter Dickinson over the holiday weekend, according to NOLA.com writer Rod Walker.
A two-way deal allows players to split their time between the NBA roster and the G League affiliate. Marginal players like Dickinson can be used throughout the season to fill holes and cover for injuries.
It wasn’t surprising that Dickinson wasn’t drafted, as he has some areas in his game that need significant improvement, but he does possess some basketball skills.
How might Hunter Dickinson help an NBA team?
It is no secret that Dickinson, despite being seven feet, two inches tall, lacks athleticism. He doesn’t jump or run well, and he lacks quickness. He doesn’t close well on the perimeter, and most NBA players will be able to beat him off the dribble. He isn’t a physical presence on the inside, and he isn’t accurate around the basket when challenged.
He does, however, have great footwork, and he can stretch a defense with the ability to shoot three-pointers. He struggled during his final season at Kansas with his long-range shooting, hitting only 27.6 percent of his attempts from behind the arc. During his first season with the Jayhawks, he was much better, nailing 35.4 percent. During his junior year at Michigan, he was even better, making 42.1 percent. That skill set exists, but he needs to be consistent.
He is also a very skilled passer. Dickinson can make good entry passes to the inside from the perimeter, and he can find the open shooter from inside. He improved at passing out of double teams while at KU.
He does use his body well to block out and he is a solid rebounder. His positioning helps overcome his lack of physicality in the lane. He pulled down 1,488 rebounds in college, good for an average of 12 per game, an incredible number by any standard.
His lack of speed, quickness, and overall athleticism will likely prevent him from becoming an NBA starter or even a player who earns decent minutes in a rotation. He does have enough skills, however, to bring value as a two-player, or with improvement, someone who could lock down a roster spot as a deep bench option.
He could bring value both as a two-way player, or eventually, as a bench piece to cover for injuries to a team’s big men. He could also be effective in limited minutes, particularly in situations where his skills will play well.
If he can improve his game in a few areas, Dickinson could parley that into a long career as a helpful fill-in. The skill set he does have should age well, giving him plenty of opportunities, starting in New Orleans.