Kris Dunn: New Orleans Pelicans’ Debrief Discussions
With the NBA Draft less than a week away, Rick, Charles and Preston continue their series of deliberations on the New Orleans Pelicans’ potential pick.
Why should the Pelicans choose Kris Dunn, junior, Providence?
Preston (@PelicanBriefNBA): They shouldn’t. Kris Dunn has elite athleticism to go with his incredible wingspan and foot speed. He has all the potential to be a great player, and could even become an all star type player.
But for every one of Dunn’s enticing abilities, comes grave concerns.
With all his flash can at times come little substance. Dunn is reckless in his aggressiveness, often misfiring on no look passes, mishandling the ball in transitions, and plunging into defenders causing charges and turnovers. He averaged almost five turnovers per game, which is by far the highest margin of all the point guards slated to be drafted this year.
Dunn also capitalized on strength of schedule. He shot 47 percent from two and 37 percent from three against powerhouses including Bryant, Evansville, NJIT, and Rider among others. In two games against fourth ranked Villanova, he contributed by shooting 5-23, with nine turnovers.
And then there’s Dunn’s injury history. He missed nearly two full seasons at Providence after undergoing two major shoulder injuries. With his head-first style of attack, there is no reason to believe it will be all smooth sailing through the paint in the NBA. He will fall on that shoulder a lot. And very hard.
Kris Dunn does have a great deal of potential if given patience and proper tutelage. His shot and mechanics will need significant improving as will his decision making and risk taking on defense. Should he put in the work and become the greatest version of himself, he could become an all star caliber player. But with Jamal Murray and Buddy Hield likely to fall to the Pels at six, Kris Dunn is a roll of the dice.
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Rick (@RickStoneNBA): If Kris Dunn is on the board when the Pelicans are on the clock, his talent level will be highway robbery for New Orleans. Purely on potential, Dunn is the third best player in the draft. And the difference between him and the fourth best prospect may not be that close.
Dunn has the potential to be a top-tier point guard in the NBA. The tools are there in all departments. It’s tough to find a glaring weakness in his game due to the pure balance he possesses on the floor.
He also fits a lot of what the Pelicans want to do. His ability to run up and down the floor and be effective both on offense and defense is something Alvin Gentry could drool over. He’s a fast-paced point guard who loves to be aggressive. With the right grooming from the Pelicans staff and proper time on the floor, he could be a star.
Charles: (@CLaRoccaJr ): Well, first and foremost Dunn has been on record of saying he’d love to play in New Orleans which is a much welcomed trait considering the Pelicans history. Now of course wanting to be picked by the Pelicans doesn’t necessarily mean you are warranted a pick, but in Dunn’s case he is certainly worth the investment.
Dunn is a big guard who is capable of playing on the ball or off the ball, a quality that will mesh well with incumbent point guard Jrue Holiday. Offensively Dunn is a much better slasher than shooter, using his freakish athleticism and good size to maneuver his way through the paint. Now, despite his sub par shooting Dunn has excelled off ball due to being an intelligent cutter. Another positive trait is that he fits the Pelicans scheme with his tremendous ability to push the ball in transition. With coach Alvin Gentry known for his fast paced offense, Dunn would be a natural fit.
Now, onto the side of the ball where Dunn offers the most potential, defense! Dunn uses his quick foot speed and size very well and is capable of guarding either guard spot effectively. The defensive backcourt of him and Holiday could cause defenses fits and it would be a welcome change with the Pelicans struggling so mightily the last few years with perimeter defense.
Next: Kris Dunn continued!