After two and a half seasons covering the New Orleans Pelicans under Willie Green, it's hard to find any similarities between the third-year head coach and The Wire‘s Marlo Stanfield. However, the religiously grounded basketball boss does have one thing in common with the fictional Baltimore shot-caller. They've both had to deal with what “sounds like one of them good problems.” For the Pelicans coach, this has to do with his roster decisions.

The NBA season just hit the midway point and the Pelicans are getting by at a near-historic rate for the franchise. They've almost got more talent on the bench than court time to allot. Green has some “extremely difficult” roster decisions to make as the NBA trade deadline and All-Star weekend get closer.

“Just grateful…We've got a ton of depth. Griff and his team have done an amazing job bringing in high-character guys who come in every day to work with the coaching staff, with the performance team, and work to get better…,” Green said after beating the Dallas Mavericks. “It says a lot. It says a lot about this team and the mental toughness. To get in late and not use it as an excuse, just get out and leave our effort on the floor. We're extremely proud of (the players).”

Green and the Pelicans needed that depth to get out of Dallas with a win. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy III were all unavailable for the first game of a ‘baseball series' versus the Mavericks. The extra minutes went to Jose Alvarado, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Naji Marshall, Dyson Daniels, and rookie Jordan Hawkins (who finished with 34 points).

Larry Nance Jr. shot a compliment up to the front office when the Pelicans got back for their first practice in New Orleans since New Year's Day.

“Honestly I think the biggest (strength) is our roster,” Nance Jr. admitted. “We have legitimate NBA players, like really good NBA players on our roster that aren't even playing. There's not many teams in the NBA that can say that. That's hats off to player development for getting these guys to a point, all of us to a point, where we can be rotational pieces, serviceable players in the NBA. Credit to the front office for putting this roster together and credit to the guys for their work. Players aren't made overnight. There is a lot of work put into that so it's a lot of credit due around here but I think the biggest thing is how balanced and talented the roster is.”

Former lottery pick Kira Lewis Jr. has already been squeezed out of minutes and was just traded to the Toronto Raptors. The Alabama alum started the season as one of the first reserves off the bench but logged just seven minutes in Dallas. Alvarado did not play at all in the second game versus the Mavericks, and Marshall only got nine minutes. Daniels saw his time cut almost in half, as did Hawkins in the second Dallas date.

Willie Green has to see more of Jordan Hawkins with All-Stars

Jordan Hawkins Pelicans

Willie Green's got some decisions to make with so many of the roster's first-round picks needing developmental minutes, especially with Jordan Hawkins.

The 6'5” guard out of UConn has already proven to be a capable movement shooter who can provide space but also put the ball on the court to punish overzealous defensive closeouts. Hawkins is a bigger defender than Jose Alvarado, and also a far better free-throw shooter. Hawkins (84.6% FT) is over 20% better from the charity stripe than both Alvarado and Daniels, who are both under 65%.

“(Hawkins) was terrific,” Green admitted in Dallas. “He was locked in from the very start of the game. His gameplan discipline was off the charts. His ability to hit shots, but not only just hit shots but continue to make the right play on both sides of the basketball. He's getting better and better before our eyes. He's making my job extremely difficult…I have no idea how we are going to manage it but that's the fun part. We will figure it out and continue to communicate to our players that they've all helped us win games. That's the key. Just continue to do the things that help us win.”

Green is warming up to Hawkins playing more minutes. The NCAA champion even shared that a recent stint with the G-League's Birmingham Squadron helped boost confidence levels, and it's showing with the Pelicans the last two weeks.

“He's a hooper and that's what we are seeing,” shared Green. “His approach is that he wants to play. He's showing that every time he gets an opportunity, he is displaying his talents. Like I said, it's making my job extremely difficult. Which, (the Pelicans) want that, guy that makes it hard for you. They come in every day and look to get better. They carve out space and time for themselves. We don't win this game without his scoring and ability to make plays for us.”

Earning a road win with a skeleton crew Pelicans roster is just one reason Green's Coach of the Year odds are getting shorter by the day.

“It's a huge confidence booster. You need some wins like this. When you have guys out and other players get an opportunity to step up and play a bigger role, it just boosts the confidence of our team. For me, I love our ability to be mentally tough. Tough game in Denver, we're coming off a loss, we got in at four in the morning and had to show up tonight against a really good Dallas team, and our guys went out and battled. That's the key…”

The key over the next 41 games is seeing which young talents Green will be able to turn to once the NBA Playoffs tip off.