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Pelicans focus on defense, tenacity in adding Solomon Hill, E’Twaun Moore

Too many times after games last season – particularly early in 2015-16 – when Alvin Gentry walked out of the New Orleans locker room to address the media, a theme was that the Pelicans had been outworked and outhustled by the opposition. Sure, at the end of the floor where many fans and media devote their attention, New Orleans was competent, finishing 16th in offensive rating despite a slew of injuries. However, on defense and in the effort department, the Pelicans needed obvious improvement (28th in defensive efficiency, ahead of only Brooklyn and the Lakers).

Although the pair of July 1 free-agent agreements with NBA veterans Solomon Hill and E’Twaun Moore didn’t jump off the ESPN Bottom Line in terms of gaudy statistics (combined career scoring average of 11.8 points), the additions are in keeping with New Orleans’ philosophy of adding defense, energy and grit to its roster. Hill and Moore have only periodically been given opportunities to contribute with their previous NBA teams, but bring traits to the Crescent City that could make the Pelicans a tougher, more defensive-minded squad.

“We need players to come in with a blue-collar mindset and the work ethic that New Orleans fans will be attracted to,” said David Booth, the Pelicans’ director of player personnel. “Neither of these guys have had an easy road in the NBA, but the one thing you can say is that they’ve always fought, and any time they’ve been on the floor, they’ve been able to have success. Their moments have been sporadic on the court, but we think they can provide very good things for us as a unit. They add that urgency on the floor and energy that we are trying to inject in our team. They both were major steps in our goal to do that.”

Hill was almost exclusively an Indiana reserve in his rookie and third seasons, but in between he started 78 games for the 2014-15 Pacers, in the absence of All-Star forward Paul George. Hill averaged 11.0 points and 4.7 rebounds that season, including a pair of double-figure scoring games in wins over New Orleans. His top career highlight probably occurred in April, when Indiana nearly upset second-seeded Toronto in the first round of the playoffs. Over seven games, Hill averaged 7.7 points and shot 57.9 percent (11/19) from three-point range.

“With Solomon, you really didn’t see what he could do until the playoff series,” Booth said of the 25-year-old’s first substantial postseason opportunity. “He made the corner three-point shot, defended well. When Paul George was hurt (for nearly all of 2014-15), you really saw Solomon’s defensive capabilities, with him guarding from the (power forward) spot all the way to the perimeter with (shooting guards). He’s really shown in different spurts what type of player he could be. So we always had our eye on him, even when he was at Arizona (in college), as a potential two-way player. If you watched their playoff series, you got a glimpse of what we thought he could be playing with us.”

Moore played sparingly as a Boston rookie, then got a larger opportunity over two seasons with Orlando, prior to an up-and-down role in Chicago over the last two seasons. Working against him was a Bulls roster with considerable depth, headed by the likes of Derrick Rose, minutes-eater Jimmy Butler and quality backup point Aaron Brooks.

“They had a lot of guards,” Booth said of the Bulls. “He kind of got stuck behind them, but he still shot the ball well for Chicago (45.7 percent on threes in 2015-16) and showed that he can play both guard spots. We thought him playing that combo guard position would be invaluable for us, because we want to have versatility and toughness. He fit that bill. He’s able to knock down a shot and can defend ones, twos and threes.”

For New Orleans to drastically improve upon an injury-marred 30-52 season, the Pelicans must become a stingier team defensively. Booth sees Hill and Moore as players who can make an impact in that critical area, as well as contribute offensively by making open shots.

“Solomon and E’Twaun both fit being a two-way player,” Booth said. “They can defend and score. Defense has a lot to do with a mindset, and both of them have the mindset and urgency level to want to stop their man. They’ve done a good job there. If you go back and watch film of Solomon at Indiana, he’s guarded LeBron, Kevin Durant, all the top wings, and he’s done a good job of containing them. Being in Chicago’s system, a defensive-oriented program, E’Twaun also did well guarding guys.”

For both Hill and Moore, the signing of multi-year contracts with New Orleans means a chance to potentially find a long-term home in the league. Neither player hesitated when given the opportunity to come to the Pelicans, agreeing to terms within 24 hours of free agency commencing July 1.

“Talking with those guys, when they ended up committing to come here, they saw our vision,” Booth said of Hill and Moore. “They saw our franchise player, Anthony Davis, as someone they wanted to play with, also Jrue Holiday and our two draft picks. And I think them seeing and talking to Alvin Gentry was big, because they saw his style of play. Both of them will fit perfectly into it. Because of all those things combined, it made New Orleans an attractive landing spot.”