The New Orleans Pelicans have a participant who’s attempting to get larger forward of a grueling NBA season.
The New Orleans Pelicans have made some daring strikes throughout this offseason. The franchise is able to go in a brand new path.
After buying and selling Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors in February, the Pelicans knew they needed to make some massive adjustments to their roster.
And step one to that was getting youthful, buying and selling CJ McCollum to the Washington Wizards to land Jordan Poole.
The following step was including some thrilling younger gamers from the NBA Draft. The Pelicans picked Jeremiah Fears with the #7 decide, then traded up into the lottery to choose Derik Queen at #13.
It’s clear the Pelicans are prepared for a brand new season. And their gamers have been getting ready for what might be their greatest problem. One participant particularly is embracing the physicality of the NBA by attempting to pack on extra muscle.
Yves Missi spoke throughout the New Orleans Pelicans’ NBA Summer season League coaching. One of many reporters requested him about his barely larger body.
Missi admitted that it was an intentional alternative, as he tried so as to add extra muscle to develop larger and compete with the NBA’s larger gamers and the elevated physicality of the league.
Reporter: “You appear like you’ve added weight this offseason?”
Yves Missi: “A little bit bit, a little bit bit. Engaged on my energy clearly, get a little bit larger, not being pushed round. That’s the objective for all the summer time.
“The league is extra bodily yearly. You will have guys 250+, largely facilities. I’ve bought to rise up there.”
Missi is 6’11, and including some muscle to go along with his slender body might make him one of many extra imposing bodily presences within the NBA.
Whereas the added body may not assist his shot blocking, it might permit him to contest pictures higher and make life troublesome for gamers attempting to drive to the basket.
Missi may also be including on the additional weight to offer him a leg up within the choice course of. With the Pelicans drafting Derik Queen, Missi now has competitors for the beginning middle spot.
Pelicans GM Joe Dumars needed to defend drafting Queen vigorously, which confirmed how a lot religion the franchise has within the younger star.
As such, Missi should be certain that he establishes a pecking order to keep away from shedding his spot. Final season, Missi averaged 9.1 factors, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
These are respectable numbers, however Missi should attempt to enhance his stats if he desires to proceed being the beginning middle.
The addition of Kevin Looney to the Pelicans solely makes his function that a lot tougher. Missi might want to discover the motivation to combat for his spot.
