Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: 15 best draft picks of all-time

By John Buhler

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 24: New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul #3 looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena on March 24, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The New Orleans won 121-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 24: New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul #3 looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena on March 24, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The New Orleans won 121-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Darius Miller, New Orleans Pelicans
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Getting anything out of a back-half of the second-round pick should be commended. One guy that has had some degree of staying power with the Pelicans organization is small forward Darius Miller. New Orleans used its No. 46 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft on Miller. So far, he has played with the franchise in four seasons over six years.

Miller played in 102 games with the Hornets/Pelicans during his first three years in the NBA. However, he played sparingly as a low-end of the rotational sort of player. He never played in more than 52 games or made more than seven starts in those three years. After kicking around in the D-League his first three seasons, he would sign a two-year deal to play overseas with Brose Bamberg in Germany.

Turns out, those two years spent in Germany were well worth it for Miller. He would return to the Pelicans in 2017-18 after signing a two-year deal with New Orleans in July 2017. Though he only started two games for New Orleans, Miller was a key contributor for the Pelicans coming off the bench this past season. He averaged 7.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in 23.7 minutes per contest.

Not only did the Pelicans make the Western Conference Playoffs and win a playoff series, Miller played in all 82 games for New Orleans in his first year back with the club. It remains to be seen what way he will contribute in 2018-19. That being said, his four years over two stints with the Pelicans nearly has him cracking the top-five in this all-time list already.