Ranking former Timberwolves players in NBA playoffs

Mar 19, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham (44) talks to guard Norris Cole (30) against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Pelicans 74-72. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

#6. Dante Cunningham – New Orleans Pelicans

Cunningham was was under-appreciated during his two seasons in Minnesota and was, at times, over-used by head coach Rick Adelman.

He’s a nice forward to have off the bench for a playoff team and is probably best utilized as a 15-18 minute per game energy/defense guy. Adelman would have him guard the opposition’s best player too often and played him at power forward too much in his final season in Minnesota, but he’s a solid player.

Pelicans head coach Monty Williams, on the other hand, has used Cunningham in even more puzzling ways. Instead of splitting time between the two forward spots, he’s played small forward for more than three-quarters of his minutes over 66 games with the Pels.

Cunningham has even started 27 games but has not been very effective on defense or efficient on offense. He qualifies as a tweener with a good mid-range jumper but not much beyond that, and he isn’t good enough on the boards to play heavy minutes at the four.

He’ll play a lot in the playoffs — the 25 minutes per game that Williams has played Cunningham is just shy of the 25.1 MPG that Adelman played Dante in 2012-13, and he’s been severely over-extended.

Next: Another Magical Playoff Run?