The Bird Calls Podcast Ep. 18: Ian Clark’s fit in New Orleans should be a familiar one

Ian Clark’s fit with New Orleans Pelicans appears good on paper. His role off the bench should be similar to his time with the Golden State Warriors because he’ll be surrounded by a number of solid defenders and asked to do what he does best — knock down open jump shots.

Entering the 2017-18 season, the Pelicans will have a good problem with a surplus of guards so it’s hard to envision Clark competing for a Sixth Man of the Year Award. However, that may not be a bad thing since asking players like he or Jordan Crawford to play big minutes could significantly reduce their positive impact due to their defensive shortcomings.

Thanks to DeMarcus Cousins recruiting skills, Dell Demps was able to sign Clark, but it’s not a guarantee the duo finishes the season together in New Orleans. Plans have had a habitual problem of coming together for the Pelicans. Another sluggish start and the front office could be forced to explore the trade market for fear of losing Boogie for nothing next summer.

That said, this scenario should not be the expectation. There’s a lot to like as the Pelicans did address a lot of weaknesses this offseason. For instance, Rajon Rondo brings much needed boosts in playmaking and big game experiences. Consequently, it’s probably more logical to talk about New Orleans being a definite playoff team rather than one likely to finish outside of the postseason bubble.