New Orleans Pelicans: Draft Lottery roundtable

Question four: The Pelicans have three second round picks this year. Which guys do you like the best near the top of the second round?

Stone: This is a fun one to think about because there’s a bunch of directions the Pelicans can go with these second round picks. If they’re more confident in a late first rounder, they could look to make a trade with a contending team on a “must get” if a difference maker falls. However, if it comes down to picking a guy that could in the early-second round range, Jaron Blossomgame could be an interesting selection. His stock has been rising from his performance at the latest NBA Combine and could develop well on the team. Others that could fall into the Pelicans lap are High School center Thon Maker, Saint Joe’s Junior DeAndre Bembry and Oregon State guard Gary Payton II. Maker’s development and raw talent could fit well next to Anthony Davis. Bembry’s skill set out of college would make a big difference at the small forward right out of the gate. Payton can develop into a great bench guard and has the genes of an NBA player. Early second round picks are great. The Pelicans have some really solid options.

Kleen: Before the Draft Combine and the NCAA Tournament, I would’ve lived and died by Gary Payton II. However, he’s risen on a lot of draft boards into the first round, and he’ll probably continue to do so as teams fall in love with his #length. I’m not as bullish on an unknown youngster like Thon Maker as Rick is, but I tend to lean towards unpolished big men in the second round. Along those lines are guys like Ivica Zubac, Zhou Qi, Chinanu Onuaku or even Chieck Diallo (say THAT list five times fast!). I will say that I’d prefer as roster-ready guy over a stasher, so perhaps Zubac is a bit further down than the others based on the rumors that he’ll stay in Croatia.

Ellis:  I know this is a pipe dream, but what a steal Malik Beasley would make!  Most boards I’ve seen have him ranked toward the end of the first round, but if he somehow finds his way to the Pelicans, or if they can package their two picks to move up a couple of slots, I think they come away with a king’s ransom.  He’s got a nasty streak, incredible athleticism, size, and a long range game.  He can body up boys on the wing, and he seems ready to work.  FSU coach Leonard Hamilton could not stop talking about how much he liked coaching this kid, and I think he comes in and makes himself a solid rotational player immediately.  

Callais: I’d be lying if I said I followed college ball to the extent that I had a firm grasp on the value of guys that deep, but this plays into the larger question of this team’s ability to develop young talent. Recent history suggests that the Pelicans are largely inept in this regard, with Monty Williams initially being heralded as a defensive-minded player development guy who promptly spent the next half a decade proving he was neither. Alvin Gentry — and, probably just as importantly, Darren Erman — is obviously unproven due to last year’s lack of draft picks. That said, considering both coaches’ records, I think the right guys could wind up leaving this team better than when they first stepped off the plane at Armstrong International.

LaRocca: Trade those bad boys up and try and get into the first to grab Deandre Bembry. Bembry possesses great passing vision and shown an ability to score all through college. With Eric Gordon likely leaving the Pelicans will be in need of scoring and Bembry could potentially bring that in a bench role. His passing vision is also something that intrigued me, maybe it is because I am just a sucker for guys that can move the ball but I am sick of having players that are unable or just simply do not make the extra pass. Bembry despite his scoring prowess showed a willingness to pass.

Heck: The only player in that range I’ve spent any time considering is Gary Payton II, who, as Brendon pointed out, likely won’t be there with the way he has shot up draft boards. The nature of early second round picks is such that the talent, if present, cannot be readily visible to the casual observer or the player would have already been selected (duh). When you get this deep in the draft, I think it’s best to let the professional talent evaluators figure it out rather than taking stabs in the dark.

Next: Can rookies play?