The Pelicans recruit two key Warriors championship contributors, harboring ambitions to replicate the next Curry.

The NBA free agency period has officially begun today, and the Pelicans' move has puzzled many fans—they signed Kevin Looney, a three-time champion veteran from the Warriors. This interior player, who spent 10 years with the Warriors, changed teams for the first time in his career, joining the Pelicans on a two-year, $16 million contract. This also reunites him with former teammate Jordan Poole, who was previously traded to the Pelicans by the Wizards.

Many fans might be confused about why the Pelicans are willing to offer Looney a two-year, $16 million deal. It’s known that Looney’s performance with the Warriors has become less impressive, and his presence on the court has diminished. Logically, Looney might not attract much attention from other teams, yet he secured a substantial contract on the very first day of free agency. What exactly is the Pelicans’ management thinking?

From my perspective, the Pelicans’ management likely harbors some hidden ambitions—they want to try to replicate Curry’s success. Even if they fail, the loss won’t be significant. If you ask which player in the league resembles Curry’s playing style the most, it’s undoubtedly Jordan Poole. Last season, Poole averaged 20.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 37.8%. His style is very similar to Curry’s, excelling at both regular and deep three-pointers, and his agility driving to the basket closely mirrors Curry’s early career.

The Pelicans probably aim to bring Looney onto the team to leverage his screen-setting skills to create more opportunities for Jordan Poole. Looney’s screening ability is well-known throughout the league, excelling both on-ball and off-ball. With Looney providing high-quality screens, Poole may gain better shooting space. Additionally, Looney performs exceptionally well in handoff plays. He and Poole have already developed great chemistry. Therefore, I believe the Pelicans’ desire to acquire Looney largely stems from his ability to support Jordan Poole.

Jordan Poole is only 26 years old, a relatively young player. The Pelicans want to take a chance on him and see if he can approach Curry’s level in his prime. While Poole may never become a superstar on Curry’s scale, if he can develop to even half of Curry’s ability, it would be a big win for the Pelicans. They also have players like Williamson and Murphy on their roster. If Poole can become the team’s perimeter leader next season, and the team builds around Poole, Williamson, and others, their future could be very promising.