4 Draft Prospects For The Pelicans At No. 14
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Pelicans will not have to wait long to find out their fate in Thursday's NBA Draft lottery. Suppose the organization is not announced as the holder of the 14th overall selection to open the broadcast. In that case, the team's fans can start celebrating a top-4 pick with their dreams of landing Victor Wembanyama still alive.
Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, and Brandon Miller would be welcomed additions to the locker room. However, the chances of jumping up in the draft order by ten or more spots are slim to none. Staying at 14th would likely mean Anthony Black, Cam Whitmore, and the Thompson twins (Ausar and Amen) are off the board when the Pelicans submit a name.
The arguments for trading the 14th pick and only keeping a top-4 selection merit consideration. However, there could be some value in adding another cost-controlled young talent to the roster.
Mar 19, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Cason Wallace (22) drives to the basket against Kansas State Wildcats forward Keyontae Johnson (11) during the second half in the second round of the 2023 NCAA men s basketball tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Long-Term Lead Guard Or Rangy Wing
New Orleans does not need much from a lead guard going forward. Not with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram on the court. Tough point-of-attack defense and an ability to make plays for others are more important. Just ask Jose Alvarado.
Kentucky combo guard Cason Wallace may not have All-Star potential, but he has a high floor and looks to be a sure-fire bench contributor for years. The SEC All-Freshman averaged 0.77 passes per touch, the best mark among the projected lottery picks.
Wallace quickly earned some extra notice on NBA scouting radars with 14 points, 8 steals, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists against Michigan State at the Champions Classic. The Pelicans (and practically the entire NBA) were in the gym watching.
Wallace was moved around Kentucky's offense last year, sharing the backcourt with Sahvir Wheeler. Much like the Pelicans, the Wildcats were short on outside shooting, but Wallace hit 35% from three-point range. The stocky 6'5", 195-pound guard will be able to stand his ground on the low block like Jrue Holiday or Marcus Smart.
Dariq Whitehead was a top-five, five-star recruit when he headed to Duke one year ago. His stock has fallen, but New Orleans could scoop up one of the best pure shooters in the draft. If Whitehead shows off NBA three-point range from Day 1, he'd be hard to keep off the court.
The former Blue Devil shot 43% from beyond the arc overall and 79% from the free-throw line. Whitehead hit just over 45% on catch-and-shoot three-point attempts and 40.5% on guarded spot-up shots from deep.
Whitehead would have to show consistent defense effort to stay in Willie Green's good graces but the 6'7'' wing could find room to run with the second unit.
Mar 10, 2023; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UCF Knights forward Taylor Hendricks (25) in action during the game between the UCF Knights and the Memphis Tigers at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Well-Rounded Rebounders
Zion Williamson will be in a position to grab rebounds and run most of the time. New Orleans will employ a traditional big man like Jonas Valanciunas, but the role may be limited moving forward. Larry Nance Jr.'s hybrid role this year could fit Taylor Hendricks like a fresh new shirt in the coming year.
Hendricks, a 6'10" 19-year-old hitting almost 40% from three-point range, does not need the ball to be useful on offense.
“Hendricks is big, knows how to play, can shoot well, and can defend and guard in a switch because he can block shots at the rim even if the guard gets by him,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “He’s the best prospect coming out of the AAC ahead of Jarace Walker.”
Dereck Lively II might be the best paint-protecting rebounder in the draft. The 7'1" Duke center held opponents to 36.8% shooting when he defended them in the restricted area. Opposing teams shot 29.8% in the paint during minutes when Lively II was on the court.
Lively II does not shy away from the spotlight in big games. He swatted away eight shots against North Carolina, the most by any Duke player against UNC, while also grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds and playing a career-high 34 minutes.
High-Risk High-Reward Honorable Mention: Leonard Miller measured 6'8.5" barefoot, 6'10.0" in shoes, with an 8'10.5" standing reach and 7'2.0" wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine. He's only gotten bigger and better with a year in the G-League.
Miller is a mid-first-round pick that is a proven high-level rebounder. Having withdrawn from last year's draft, Miller likely understands his expectations, role, and how to fit into an NBA locker room.
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