Who the New Orleans Pelicans Should Have Drafted Every Year Since 2003
2012-2015: Missed Chance at a Dynasty
Few teams evoke as many draft “what-ifs” as the 2012-2105 New Orleans Pelicans, who got their superstar but then failed to build much around him.
Half the league wishes they could do the 2013 draft over, but the Pelicans also missed on guys in 2012 and 2015 as well.
2012
Who they drafted: Anthony Davis (1), Austin Rivers (10), Darius Miller (46)
Who they should have drafted: Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Kent Bazemore
Notable misses: Jae Crowder, Khris Middleton, John Henson
Even though the New Orleans Pelicans nailed the top pick in the draft with Davis, they missed on a few guys that might have kept The Brow around.
This one worked out eventually for the Pels, as they have built the best young core in the league around the Davis trade, which we think the Pelicans won.
But in retrospect, Green would have been the perfect player to match with Davis, as he would have allowed him to play power forward.
It may have been the Pelicans, not the Warriors, ushering in this new era of small-ball behind Green’s defensive versatility.
The Pels also missed on All-Star sharpshooter Middleton, long-time role player Bazemore and even Henson would have been better than Rivers.
2013
Who they drafted: Nerlens Noel (6)
Who they should have drafted: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Notable Misses: C.J. McCollum, Steven Adams, Dennis Schroder, Rudy Gobert, Andre Roberson, Nicolo Melli
This one is tough. We detailed what might have happened had the Pelicans drafted the Greek Freak in a recent article.
How the 2013 draft could have changed the Pelicans. light. Related Story
There are 14 teams who wish they could do this draft over, as generational superstar and eventual MVP Antetokounmpo was there for the taking.
The New Orleans Pelicans ended up trading Noel to the 76ers as part of a package for Jrue Holiday, so it’s hard to drag them too much, as that trade was a big win for the Pels.
Giannis was an unknown commodity at the time and the Bucks have to be credited with drafting for potential on a high-ceiling, low-floor pick.
Imagine a threesome of Davis, Green and Giannis. They would have had the most dominant and versatile defense in the league and two unstoppable players on offense.
With those three in place, even without Holiday, the Pelicans would have had a chance at multiple titles and may have been able to convince Davis to stick around.
Maybe not. It’s possible Davis would have whined his way out anyway, but even if he had, they would basically have the same team built around Giannis.
This is a tough one, as most teams could claim they would have been a dynasty had they just taken Giannis, but the Pelicans can’t help but wonder what that pairing would have been like.
2014
No Picks
2015
Who they drafted: Branden Dawson (56)
Who they should have drafted: Christian Wood
The New Orleans Pelicans got another chance to fix this mistake but botched it again.
Wood ended up as a member of the Pelicans, but they waived him prior to this season.
He then went on to have a breakout year for the Pistons, and was especially good after they traded Andre Drummond.
We profiled Wood as a potential free agent pick up for the Pelicans, but they could have just drafted him.
Then again, every team had a chance at Wood, who was not picked in the 2015 draft.