NBA Rumors: Young Pelican Gets Some Flashes From Retired Heat Star

Josh Hart knows he will be coming off the New Orleans Pelicans bench and likely take on the same role he had with the Los Angeles Lakers. Entering his third NBA season, the 24-year-old guard that his game needs polishing. To make sure he shows further improvement, he is working with recently retired Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade to make a difference.

Seeing how Wade is an established star who will be a future Hall of Famer, Hart is in good hands. He is a three-time NBA champion and is now giving back by mentoring young players in the NBA, the Sports Center reported. And if there is a department that Hart needs help in, it would be consistency.

Looking at his past performances, there is no question that Hart is oozing with potential. He is a scrappy guard who is not afraid to mix it up. However, he needs to establish himself as a two-way player. He was relegated as a spot-up shooter last season with the Lakers. With a young and new team, he may need to do more than that. One area he needs to work on is being a point guard.

There was a stretch last season where the Lakers needed someone to man the point. This was the time when Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo were out with injuries. Hart failed to live up to the billing. With the Pelicans, it won't come as a surprise if he would be called on to do some playmaking chores.

Ironically, he is more likely to come off the bench to spell the same player he did in Los Angeles. Ball will likely take the lead unless Hart proves he is a better option for head coach Alvin Gentry. Aside from skills, Hart needs to make sure he is healthy. This was one reason why he was in and out of the Lakers rotation. In New Orleans, the case is different. He is expected to play more minutes and prove that he is truly destined to be one of the top players in the league.

In a previous post, Hart admitted that he was surprised to find out he was traded to the Pelicans on social media. New Orleans could help him blossom into the star that some see him to be. It all starts by staying healthy and digesting whatever things The Flash is able to teach him this offseason.