If the Pelicans land additional picks, should they draft Bol Bol?

As it stands, the New Orleans Pelicans have one pick in the first round of this year’s NBA Draft. If Anthony Davis is moved, that is very likely subject to change. Hypothetically speaking, should they use that additional pick to select Bol Bol?

The Boston Celtics are currently two games away from elimination. It may sound completely irrelevant to the Pelicans, but this expedites the prospect of a Celtics/Pelicans transaction centered around Anthony Davis. Among the variety of assets the Celtics possess, they have multiple first-round draft selections in this year’s NBA Draft.

If the Boston Celtics lose, the New Orleans Pelicans win

There’s still a slim chance the Celtics obtain a lottery pick this year from the Memphis Grizzlies; but given the Grizzlies stance in the draft, it’s likely to convey to next season as it’s protected 1-8 this year.  So, let’s instead advert our attention to the pick they own from the Sacramento Kings at #14. There’s a lot of hypotheticals here, but isn’t that the most entertaining aspect of the offseason?

To quickly provide backstory, the Celtics had a ton of expectation heading into this year. We went further into detail in an article, which you can read here. If they fall short in the second round of these playoffs—especially with Kyrie Irving’s future in doubt— a drastic move by the front office to keep him in Boston does not seem far-fetched. That’s where their draft picks come into play.

Bol Bol’s nine games of dominance

We also talked about what the trade would look like, here. And now with that out of the way, let’s take a look at a potential selection with that 14th pick in this year’s Draft. You may have heard of Bol Bol, son of NBA mythical creature Manute Bol. Manute Bol stood at 7’7, tying him for tallest NBA player of all-time alongside Gheorghe Muresan.

And in this instance, the apple did not fall for from the tree for the 7’2 Bol Bol. However, there are glaring differences between the game of the father and the game of the son. Manute averaged a measly 2.6 points for his career and was used solely as a shot blocker—in which he averaged 3.3 blocks per contest. Bol Bol has the potential of being an offensive nightmare.

His sample size is small, that is worth mentioning. He played in just 9 games this season as a freshman in Oregon. But in those games, he showcased what he’s capable of. He averaged: 21.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 0.8 steals, on 56% from the field. Though such statistics are incredibly impressive, what sets him apart is his perimeter shooting. Bol shot an absurd 52% from deep, on 2.8 attempts per game.

Could injuries scare away the Pelicans?

But— and especially with anyone his size—you have to be wary of injuries. The last thing a team wants out of their 7’2 center is nagging foot injuries. Such complications have derailed careers of multiple big men, a prime example being Yao Ming. The risks are all there, and there will be teams that bypass the potential generational talent out of fear.

But should the Pelicans? If he’s on the board with this hypothetical pick that was once Sacramento’s, then Boston’s, and now New Orleans’, will they use it on Bol? The Pelicans need rim protection, he provides that. They need outside shooting, he can knock down the long ball at an efficient clip. They’re likely going to move on from a generational talent, why not bring one in?

Bol’s upside is well worth the risk. Sports medicine and technology is the best it’s ever been and with renowned trainer Aaron Nelson on board, they could help Bol prevent future complications with his foot. David Griffin and whoever is brought on as general manager have to nail this draft. Who would you like to see Bol chosen with this theoretical pick? Do you believe he’s worth the risk? Let us know in the comments below!