Mock Draft 2.0: New Orleans Pelicans Jump into Top Four
Center / Memphis. New Orleans Pelicans. player. 69. Pick Analysis. James Wiseman. 3. Scouting Report
Coming into the season, most thought James Wiseman was the top player in his class.
After some trouble at Memphis, Wiseman had to step away from the NCAA, so like most players in this draft, teams have not seen enough of him.
The New Orleans Pelicans could go a number of ways in this draft if they were to luck out and jump into the top-four.
They could use a wing who plays defense, a stretch-four to clear lanes for Zion or a center that can step out of the lane and shoot.
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Wiseman is none of those things, so it might not make a lot of sense for the New Orleans Pelicans to take a guy who might clog the lane for Zion.
They also have young Jaxson Hayes already on the roster and may just want to hand the keys over to him.
But with Derrick Favors likely to walk and the New Orleans Pelicans having some of the worst interior defense in the NBA, Wiseman actually makes a lot of sense.
The New Orleans Pelicans already have plenty of scoring and playmaking, so Wiseman would really just be asked to do three things: protect the rim, rebound and set screens.
He does all of those things very well, as he averaged 10.7 rebounds and three blocks a game to go along with 19.7 points.
Wiseman and Zion might not be the best pairing and if the New Orleans Pelicans did jump this high, there is a chance they might try to package the pick in a big trade.
There is also something to be said for just taking the best player available here, regardless of fit and Wiseman is probably the best player if the New Orleans Pelicans can’t make a Ball Brothers reunion happen.
Fans might not like this one, but Wiseman is going to be better than Hayes and would give the New Orleans Pelicans a lot of assets to use in a trade.