Usually, when BI and Z are both playing, the team starts firing on all cylinders and starts ascending. This year, it’s been a bit different. Jose, Naji, and Trey haven’t played yet. CJ suffered a freak lung injury and Herb’s ankle got crushed by Joker.

The top-6 guys remaining in Hawkins, Daniels, BI, Zion, JV and Nance are still good enough. Provided they take of business. The problem is, after that it’s pretty scarce. (Also, it’s great than Nance can dribble up court to avoid the 8-second count, but it discombulates the offense too much.)

As a true point guard, Kira Lewis should help keep the turnovers down in theory, but at only 1585 career minutes across 111 games, he’s still more of a mystery box than people realize. He’s the guy picked after Haliburtion, he’s come back from an ACL injury, he was Herb’s college PG for 2 seasons at Alabama.

But he’s also the most likely candidate to get traded this year. He hits RFA this offseason, plenty of other teams in the West could be desperate for a true point guard, and his salary is currently pushing the Pelicans into the luxury tax.

Matt Ryan’s been a dead eye shooter, but he’s only played 13 minutes with BI and Zion so far.

Those two are probably my picks for most reliable 7th and 8th guys by process of elimination. Cody Zeller has been a 3rd string C at our healthiest position, and Seabron and Robinson-Earl aren’t looking like key players going forward.

But in 64 minutes together, Ryan and Lewis have had a net -7.1 rating, breaking it down by 3rd teammate:

Zion Williamson: 16 minutes, -59.9
Brandon Ingram: 14 minutes, +16.6
Jonas : 12 minutes, +71.4
Daniels: 41 minutes, -7.9
Hawkeye: 15 minutes, -56.4
Nance: 27 minutes, -14.9