Pelicans Sign Jimmer Fredette To One Year Deal, Where Does He Fit?

New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps appears to be focused on finding shooting from the wing. According to multiple reports, the Pelicans and guard Jimmer Fredette have agreed to a one-year deal worth the league minimum.

Fredette is best known for his college career at BYU where he was honored as the consensus NCAA national player of the year in 2011.

Listed as 6'2, 195 pounds, Fredette's biggest strength in college was an ability to score. He averaged 28.9 points a game as a senior and was named a first-team All-American.

Fredette's college game has not transitioned well to the pros. Drafted 10th overall by Milwaukee, he was immediately traded to the Sacramento Kings, where the spent two and a half seasons. In March, he reached a buyout with Sacramento, was waived, and picked up by the Chicago Bulls for the remainder of the season.

While he still shows tremendous upside from a shooting standpoint, his defensive skills have been below average. His on-ball offense leaves plenty to be desired and he has not displayed an NBA skill set to put the ball on the floor and excel...whether it be as a creator or a finisher at the rim.

Other than outside shooting, Fredette has struggled in his brief NBA career. The good news for him is the NBA is full of players who play in the league based on one specific role and strong skill set for their team.

New Orleans will likely ask Fredette to spread the floor with his shooting, as his 47.6% career three-point percentage indicates. Fredette is considered by many to be a combo guard. My guess is New Orleans won't play Jimmer at the point, barring a rash of injuries.

Fans expecting Fredette to be a major factor for the Pelicans should temper their enthusiasm. He'll be playing on his third team in three years, has been waived once, and just signed for the veteran's minimum.