CHICAGO – The New Orleans Pelicans spent the final stretch of the 2015 offseason excited about the prospects of returning their top 11 scorers from the 2014-15 squad, which reached the playoffs in the formidable Western Conference. Yet a player who wasn’t part of that 11-man group has been one of Pelicans’ best stories early in 2015-16.
Signed 24 hours before Opening Night at Golden State, free agent point guard Ish Smith has ranked among the NBA’s leaders in assists. Although his playing time has been significantly reduced in recent games in conjunction with returns from injury by point guards Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole, Smith has still shone in some of his cameos.