One of New Orleans guard E’Twaun Moore’s individual goals for 2017-18 aligns nicely with the present and likely future of the NBA. A career 36.9 percent three-point shooter, the Purdue University product hopes to elevate his accuracy to an elite level next season, by reaching a mark that a record-breaking 32 of the league’s players achieved in 2016-17. The skill has never been more important in pro basketball.
“I want to try to be a 40 percent three-point shooter next season,” Moore said, prior to the Pelicans’ April 12 season finale at Portland. “I know I’m right under it now. If I can do that, it will space the floor and be a big help to our team, especially with the talented guys we’ve got.”
On a New Orleans club that placed 19th among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage (35.0), Moore’s perimeter threat was much-needed, particularly after a February blockbuster trade removed a pair of top shooters from the roster. Partly in efforts to make it easier for perennial All-Star bigs Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins to operate, Moore produced a near carbon copy of his career shooting numbers, finishing at 36.9 percent on treys in ’16-17.
After signing with New Orleans last summer on the first day of NBA free agency, Moore was one of the Pelicans’ constants throughout the entire regular season, with his 73 appearances ranking third on the roster (Solomon Hill played 80 games, Davis 75). Filling his largest role as a pro, Moore posted career-bests in a few categories, including scoring average (9.6) and three-point makes (77). From a team standpoint, however, he was unable to return to the postseason, after reaching it previously once apiece with Boston and Chicago.
“Of course I wanted to come somewhere where I had a bigger role in trying to help a team win games, hopefully being on a playoff-contending team,” Moore said. “Those were a couple factors behind coming here. For me personally, it worked out fine. I had a solid year, but I’m going to work to get better.”
Off the floor, the Indiana native’s first experience of living in the Gulf South and playing in the NBA’s Western Conference was a memorable one.
“It was unique, very different than a lot of places I’ve been, especially with the culture and seeing parades, celebrations,” Moore said of being a New Orleans resident. “At first it takes some time to get used to, but it’s been fun. I like the people most of all – everyone is really friendly and welcoming.”
Moore’s exact role for ’17-18 remains uncertain, but it may be determined partly by New Orleans’ offseason moves. Of his 22 starts, 17 of them occurred before Dec. 1; the Pelicans were short-handed for much of that stretch.
“We’ll see over the summer,” Moore said of his future assignment. “I’m not sure if it’s going to stay (as a reserve), or if I’ll go to a starting role. I don’t know. It’s whatever works best for the team, honestly. Who doesn’t want to start? But if it’s best for the team to come off the bench to help us win games, I’m with it.”
NBA experience: 6 seasons (1 with Pelicans) || Games played/started: 73/22 || Age: 28