New Orleans Pelicans: Draft Preview And Predictions

With June 21st rapidly approaching, pondering on what could possibly happen with the Pelicans come draft night sounds like an entertaining topic to discuss, no? 

The Pelicans hold the 51st pick in this years NBA draft, which was acquired from Chicago in the Nikola Mirotic trade. History tells us that whoever gets selected here probably won’t even make the roster, as the last five players taken at 51 were Monte Morris, Ben Bentil, Tyler Harvey, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and something called Romero Osby. If that wasn’t enough for you, according to Basketball Insiders, Kyle Korver is actually the only noteworthy player to ever be taken with the 51st pick.

However, though the odds are stacked against us, there is reason to believe the Pelicans could make this years draft a success.

Some Prospects to Watch

Kevin Hervey, Texas-Arlington

Hervey, a mid-major product, blossomed into a star at UTA his last three years, averaging 18, 17, and 20 PPG. Outside of being an elite scorer, he was a dependable rebounder, averaging 8 boards throughout his career. Those things are great, but Hervey does have his struggles. He doesn’t have the best shooting stroke, having shot just over 32% from downtown, and is a poor passer. Hervey is projected to go in the 40-45 range, so he’s just outside of New Orleans reach. However, a small trade to move up isn’t out of the question.

Svi Mykhailiuk, Kansas

Another four year player, Svi is as straight a shooter as they come, because that’s basically all he does. Not to say that’s a bad thing, because he is one of the best to do it in his class. Pulling up from deep, standing at 6-8, the Ukrainian hit a nice 44% of his three pointers his senior year. Unfortunately, he is a non-factor in the paint and struggles defensively due to his short wingspan. You could argue that with NOLA he won’t need to be a great rebounder, nor be a presence in the paint. A saving grace for Mykhailiuk is that he is a great passer and has proven to be solid in transition. He should be available at 51, and in my opinion, he would be a fine selection.

MUST READ: Alvin Gentry And New Orleans Pelicans Agree On Extension

Jevon Carter, West Virginia

Carter has slowly become a favorite of mine over the past year. His senior year, he put up over 17 PPG, dished out 6.6 assists, and got under five rebounds a game. Carter did all that while being an absolute stud on the defensive end. He is also a proven leader, having taken the Mountaineers to two straight Sweet Sixteen appearances . He’s more than ready for the league, but I worry about how much playing time he would get on this roster.

Jarred Vanderbilt, Kentucky

I believe that Jarred Vanderbilt was the most talented player on the Wildcats roster. In fact, I think he could still be the most talented player from that team. The problem is, he has had several injuries to his left foot. Because of this, his draft stock has plummeted. He only played 14 games in an injury riddled freshman year, but there were flashes of the player we saw in high school. He is an excellent ball handler and a willing passer, while also being a great finisher around the rim. Another plus is that he was able to pull down eight boards a game in limited time during his college career. His three-point shot needs work and he doesn’t have the sturdiest build, but other than that his game is very well rounded.

Trades

I doubt the Pelicans will be too active on the trade front, for most of their moves will revolve around what happens in free agency. However, after looking around, I found one that should satisfy fans appetites until July…

Even though this is a relatively smaller move, this is one that I really like. Simmons is a near-perfect fit on a team starving for size on the perimeter. He is also someone that fans have had their eyes on for a while, so he would be welcomed with open arms. With the 41st pick, the Pelicans would be in a better position to take a player like Josh Okogie or Rawle Alkins.

Prediction

As much as I wanted to say the pick will be traded for cash, I really think New Orleans will stay put, or make a small move, and take a player ready to contribute. Whether that be someone I mentioned like Carter, Mykhailiuk, or someone completely out of left field, I think someone will be taken.

Next: How Does Las Vegas View the New Orleans Pelicans?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this draft preview. We here at Pelican Debrief can’t wait to see what happens on draft night!

All figures and data were compiled from nbadraft.net, sports-reference.com, and draftexpress.com