Pelicans' Buddy Hield: Will open season in bench role

Coach Alvin Gentry announced Thursday that Hield would come off the bench to begin the regular season, John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis:

Gentry liked what he saw from Hield when the rookie worked alongside presumptive starting point guard Tim Frazier during the preseason, but because veteran E'Twaun Moore outperformed Hield in the Pelicans' six exhibition games, he'll be granted the top role in the early going. While he cooled off during the second half of the preseason slate, Hield was still productive for the most part, averaging 12.5 points (43.2%), 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 three-pointers in 27.3 minutes per game. That should allow him to hold down a high-minute role as the Pelicans' sixth man, and if he curbs his turnovers and shows improved three-point accuracy as the season progresses, Hield could unseat Moore for starting duties.