5 NBA Combine Notes And Draft Hopes
The NBA Combine is underway and the NBA Draft Lottery will be broadcast on Tuesday evening (ESPN, 8 PM EST). The New Orleans Pelicans are still holding out hope for a top-4 pick but the odds are against them. The chances of moving up out of the 14th overall pick are slim but there are still several interesting pieces of information coming out of the first few days of the league's annual scouting scrum in Chicago.
New Orleans has several options to look at, including a trade to move back in the draft yet again. The Pelicans need shooting, rebounding, and a big man who can defend the perimeter a bit better than Jonas Valanciunas or Jaxson Hayes. There are a few players who were fringe lottery picks that have really upped their stock this week that might fit that profile.
With all that in mind, it is time to break down the most relevant news, notes, and hopes for fans of the Pelicans.
Jan 7, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; (from left) New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and forward Brandon Ingram watch the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Combine News and Notes
Eight players were called up from the NBA G-League Elite Camp that was held last week. Now the big names from the NCAA, Euro, and G-League development teams are all in town. Rumor mills and trade negotiations will really heat up after the lottery reveals the draft order but there are still plenty of options to start considering.
1. The Pelicans under David Griffin have made a trade during every draft except last year when the front office stuck at 8th to get Dyson Daniels. De'Andre Hunter (4th) became Jaxson Hayes (8th) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17th) in 2019. Jrue Holiday was traded for Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe plus picks on draft day in 2020. Adams and Bledsoe were sent out for Devonte' Graham and Trey Murphy III in 2021.
If the Pelicans stand pat at 14th, expect some outgoing activity. Should New Orleans not hear their name to start the show, Executive Vice President David Griffin's phone will be ringing off the hook before ESPN even reveals where the Pelicans land.
2. Emoni Bates was the most hyped high school prospect two years ago. Now, after stops at two different colleges, Bates is just hoping to hear his name during the second round of the draft. He averaged 19.2 points, 5.8 boards, 1.4 assists, and 33.8 minutes in 30 appearances for Eastern Michigan, earning second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors.
Bates finished tied for first in the -off-the-dribble shooting drill (25/30)with Penn State’s Seth Lundy. The 19-year-old was second in the 3-point star drill (19/25) behind only Houston’s Marcus Sasser.
The five-on-five scrimmages will be interesting. His style and skillset have always seemed more suited to the NBA game. The high-reward, low-risk value of shuttling Bates between the spot minutes off the bench in New Orleans and the occasional week in Birmingham is worth a second-round flyer.
3. Bobi Klintman (Wake Forest) has chosen to skip the combine, which is seen as a signal the 6'10'' big man has received a first-round promise. The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor Big Board has Klintman pegged as the 15th-best prospect. Many other respected draft analysts have Klintman in the 11-18 range.
New Orleans is looking for a rim-protecting big who can also space the floor and defend on the perimeter. The Swedish national teamer would fit right in with Jonas Valanciunas and Willy Hernangomez as city tour guides. However, this would be a pick based solely on potential.
Klintman averaged just 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in the ACC last season. The 20-year-old shot 36.8% from 3-point range. Just over 49% of his shot attempts were catch-and-shoot jumpers as he spaced the floor for a team that went 10-10 in conference play.
First, Klintman decided to enter the draft but maintain eligibility. Now, he has forgone any chance to return to college and has decided to sit out the draft. Those last 11 games really made an impression. Klintman was playing almost 30 and averaging 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and shooting 41% from 3 with 1.3 blocks per game.
Before that stretch though, his career-high was 15 points against South Carolina State and 11 in a season-opening win over Fairfield. Klintman has trouble finishing at the rim (43.9% on layups overall, 38.5% in the half-court) and is not very versatile on defense.
If the Pelicans made a promise to Klintman, I'd say they made their second-biggest draft gamble behind Zion Williamson. A swing and a miss here would be a cavalier move risking the future of the franchise. A promise now sets the team up with limited options in the coming weeks. Breaking that promise is a bad look and a bust of a pick can cost any front office executive a job.
4. The Pelicans could be interested in another overseas prospect who would be stashed for a season. They also have a current draft and stash product that rival teams have been keeping tabs on.
Karlo Matkovic will be back on the Summer League team and has a chance to play himself onto an NBA roster next season. The Pelicans have not been the only team keeping up with Matkovic this season. Likewise, Tristan Vukcevic (KK Partizan) is getting plenty of attention this week.
Not many NBA executives have gotten a good look at the 20-year-old in a live-action setting. For many their first impression was well, impressive. Vukcevic has the 6th widest wingspan and the 3rd-tallest standing reach. He was also faster than 3 point guards and 2 wings in the shuttle run.
Vukcevic is playing about 15 minutes per game for one of the best teams in Europe, posting averages of 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. He would be a cheaper option than Jaxson Hayes and could provide the same if not better production on both ends of the court.
NBA Draft Lottery Hopes
5. Between Houston (14%), San Antonio (14%), Dallas (3%), Oklahoma City (1.7%), and the New Orleans Pelicans (0.5%), the Southwest Division's five teams have an approximately 33% of landing Victor Wembenyama.
It's not the greatest bet but there is a good chance that the Smoothie King Center customers will get to see Wembanyama at least a couple of times per season every year for the next five years. At least those tickets will retain their value, right?
It will either be a very long or very short night for the Pelicans. Either New Orleans will be announced as the holder of the 14th overall pick to start the ESPN broadcast or fans will start celebrating a jump into the top four spots. There is no in-between. Hope for the best, expect the worst. There is a 97.5% chance the night's bubble of anticipation is popped quickly.
I am in the camp of hoping to see Wembanyama vs. Zion Williamson four times a year potentially. Others may disagree. Let us know your thoughts by following Pelicans Scoop on all your favorite social media and group pages throughout the offseason.
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