New Orleans Pelicans: Grading the first round draft selections
By Nolan Jensen
The New Orleans Pelicans entered Thursday night with three selections in the first round of the draft. So how did they fare? Let’s take a look and grade each individual prospect.
The New Orleans Pelicans did not have a first-round draft pick in the previous two drafts, so this was welcoming. They owned the rights to the first overall pick after a draft lottery win in May, and the two other picks (8,17), came via trade.
Under the guidance of David Griffin and Trajan Langdon, the construction of this roster is in good hands. Langdon played a significant role in restructuring Brooklyn’s roster with late first rounders and second round picks, and Griffin is no stranger to winning big in the draft either.
There were holes that needed to be filled entering the draft. The team lacked any true form of a perimeter threat, and they still had to find a frontcourt partner for their consensus number one pick, Zion Williamson.
They originally had the fourth overall pick, but Griffin and company decided against using it to draft in that position and traded down with the Atlanta Hawks.
Atlanta has acquired New Orleans No. 4 pick in the draft for No. 8 and 17 and 35, league sources tell ESPN. Pelicans are sending Solomon Hill, No. 57 pick and a future second-round pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2019
Without further adieu, let’s see what the Pelicans went with.