Smith possesses several qualities the Pelicans are currently looking for, ones that Nate Robinson lacks.
With the hire of Alvin Gentry, the Pelicans expected to address a number of key areas on offense. According to the preseason data, New Orleans did well in dialing up the pace (8th) and taking more shots from behind the three-point line (8th). However, outside of what might turn out to be an unsustainable improvement on the number of trips to the foul line, there was little else to write home about.
Injuries to Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole have undoubtedly hampered the squad to run efficiently.