New Orleans Pelicans 2015 NBA Draft Profiles: Michael Qualls

It is that time of year again. With the NBA Draft just a few weeks away it is time to start looking at players that the New Orleans Pelicans can potentially draft. While most of the players that we profile will be second round players since the Pelicans currently only have a second round pick, there will also be a few first round talents mixed in with the bunch as well. Considering the Pelicans are pretty set in the backcourt and at power forward the profiles will focus on wing players that fit into a small forward role and backup big men, places the Pelicans can stand to get a bit better.

Our first subject today is Michael Qualls, a guy who looks the part of an NBA three-and-D wing with incredible athleticism, except for the three part right now. With his elite athleticism and finishing ability Qualls will get a shot in the NBA but ultimately one thing will decide how long he sticks and probably be the reason that he is not a first round pick.

The Basics:

Age: 21

Height (with shoes): 6’5”

Weight: 201

Wingspan: 7’0.25

Standing Reach: 8’8.5”

Max Vertical: 39.5

2014-2015 Stats: 15.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 43.6 field goal percentage, 33.3 three-point percentage in 30.2 minutes per game.

Draft Projections: Second round.

Strengths:

Qualls best attribute is his incredible athleticism and the ability and willingness to use it. According to Hoop-math.com a ridiculous 70.8 percent at the rim this season and got 31.5 percent of his shots there, both great numbers for a wing player. With that vertical of 39.5 inches and the toughness that Qualls possesses he is willing to bully his way inside before exploding up and finishing with power.

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That athleticism is also what makes Qualls so easy to see as a defensive stopper. Combining the toughness and athleticism with an absurd seven-foot wingspan, Qualls should be someone who can at the very least make life awful for opposing offensive players for years.

Weaknesses:

There are a few weaknesses in Quall’s game but none is bigger than his shooting right now. Qualls shot just 33 percent from the college three-point land this season despite those shots making up 40 percent of his offense per Hoop-math. With the way the NBA is turning that number is worrisome for Qualls’ future as he must be able to knock down threes to allow his defense and athleticism to play. Luckily that shooting has gotten better as Qualls got older and his form is not terrible which leads to hope he can eventually figure things out.

Qualls also can take some bad gambles in looking for steals that hurt his individual defense, though part of that could be due to the chaotic system that Arkansas plays in. That decision-making also happens at times on offense as Qualls forces things that aren’t there. Luckily it seems that he should be able to calm down in the NBA where his role will be lessened.

Projected Role: If everything works out for Qualls some team will have found a three-and-D wing with the potential to play both wing spots due to his length and athleticism. At the very least Qualls projects to be a nice bench defender who will struggle to shoot but finish inside and grab some offensive rebounds, almost like a very poor man’s Andre Iguodala.

Information for this report, including measurnments, was found at DraftExpress.

Next: French big man Alpha Kaba is profiled here

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