New Orleans Pelicans: Top 10 draft picks in franchise history

#5) J.R. Smith

By all accounts, this should be a fun one. J.R. Smith has had a very “memorable” career, for better and for worse. But say what you what about him, he can play. That’s often placed to the side due to his antics.

He’s a former Sixth Man of the Year, he’s 13th all-time in three-point field goals, he’s amassed better than 12’000 career points and he’s an NBA Champion. However, he struggled mightily in his two years in New Orleans after being drafted 18th overall by them back in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Smith never connected on more than 1.1 three-point field goals per contest and shot 31.6 percent from distance with the team. In his third season, at the age of 21, that number jumped to 2.4 three-point field goals per game—but by then he was in Denver.

He did represent the then-Hornets in the 2005 Slam Dunk contest, but even that wasn’t a phenomenal showing. His name may forever be remembered from one particular instance in Game 1 of the Finals, but he’s had himself a respectable career.

It didn’t help that this played ruined a herculean 51-point performance from his teammate, LeBron James, either. Things happen, right? Sorry, Cavaliers fans.