The New Orleans Pelicans are somewhat in a strange place right now. On one hand, they are brimming with so much talent, thanks to the presence of Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The organization also has a neat collection of picks they can use in the draft or get a proven star via a trade.
On the other hand, the Pelicans aren’t exactly lighting the league on fire right now. Last season’s flashes haven’t translated that well to a winning record this year. At times, the fit around Ingram and Williamson can be questionable. The hype around this team won’t last that long if they continue to fall in the Western Conference standings and be left out of the playoffs again.
But despite all of those things, another bright hope is emerging early in the season in the form of the aforementioned Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The 6’6” guard from Virginia Tech was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 17th pick and immediately traded his rights to the Hawks. In turn, Atlanta traded Alexander-Walker to the Pelicans.
During his rookie season, Alexander-Walker averaged 5.7 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per contest. He also posted a -4.6 box plus/minus score, a rating that doesn’t really move his card value in the right direction.
While the samples surrounding his game as a sophomore are still small, the potential he offers Pelicans fans and card collectors is certainly intriguing. Shown below are three reasons that will convince you to invest more in Nickeil Alexander-Walker rookie cards right away.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a legitimate option behind Ingram and Williamson
When it comes to getting buckets, NOLA fans can place their full faith in Ingram and Williamson. These two forwards possess the right tools to provide excellent offense on the court. While these two can be counted on, it doesn’t hurt to have another option when it comes to scoring, especially in the backcourt.
This is where Nickeil Alexander-Walker comes in. The second-year guard has improved his scoring average from 5.7 points last season to 10.8 per game this year. He’s also draining 51% of his field goals in 20.7 minutes per contest. A clear testament to his improvement as a scorer can be seen when he drained a career-high 37 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last Jan. 13, 2021.
Career-high 3⃣7⃣ for Nickeil Alexander-Walker. 🔥@NickeilAW: 15-23 FGM, 5 3PM pic.twitter.com/FKSX5WlWy5
— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2021
In that game, the Pelicans were playing without Williamson, Lonzo Ball, and Eric Bledsoe. Their absence led to Alexander-Walker starting the game and hitting 15 out of 23 shots, including five from downtown. Although the NOLA fell to the Clippers, this game is a good indication of NAW’s promising upside as an offensive player.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has the tools to improve the Pelicans’ defense
Standing at 6’6”, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is taller than most guards in the NBA. He also possesses a 6’9” wingspan that can be used to disrupt offensive schemes opposing squads employ and turn it into instant offense.
Look out… Nickeil Alexander-Walker flying in! #NBARooks#WontBowDown #WholeNewGame
📲💻: https://t.co/ikoQZe1YAk pic.twitter.com/ijw3OM4B5D
— NBA (@NBA) July 28, 2020
If Alexander-Walker manages to bulk up, use his speed, and improve his feel for the game, he could become a key figure in improving the Pelicans’ defense. This is crucial because the Western Conference boasts elite guards like Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard, to name a few.
The prospect of NAW defending these guards and successfully containing them certainly bodes well for his card value. There’s no question that his offense is steadily improving. But if he manages to become a defensive stalwart, it could lead the Pelicans to a better record, which would really drive Alexander-Walker cards up.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is up for a promotion soon
Lonzo Ball isn’t exactly living up to his hype for New Orleans. The Pelicans’ point guard has regressed in all aspects, including scoring and field-goal efficiency, during this season. Even his defense hasn’t been all that good lately.
For this reason alone, rumors of Ball being traded by the Pelicans have been circling around lately. This is justified because New Orleans doesn’t have enough time to wait for Ball to get his act together. The Pelicans need to make the most out of Ingram and Williamson right now by winning games. One of the ways to make that happen is to take Nickeil-Alexander from the bench and give him a starting role.
If this rumor becomes a reality, you can expect Nickeil Alexander-Walker rookie cards to shoot up. As of now, his card value is relatively low and supply is abundant on the market. You can easily find NAW cards and hoard them if you want. This is a classic low-risk high reward investment that can yield great dividends if the stars align for Alexander-Walker.
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