Pelica Debrief
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New Orleans Pelicans: Ranking the last Dozen 12th Picks in the NBA Draft

By Aaron Kellerstrass

Steven Adams #12 against the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Steven Adams #12 against the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Pelicans, Jeremy Lamb
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 28: Jeremy Lamb against the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Three Mediocre 12th Picks

#9 Trey Lyles: 2016, Utah Jazz

Trey Lyles was taken in 2016, so the book is still out on his NBA career. The power forward has played for three teams in his five seasons in the league.

He’s currently on the San Antonio Spurs, where he averaged 6.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a low-minutes starter for the Spurs.

Lyles was a 38.7 percent 3-point shooter in 2019-20, so he does have some upside as a stretch-four, especially in the Spurs’ system.

Lyes is one of the guys who could jump up this list as his career develops.

#8 Alec Burks: 2011, Utah Jazz

Alec Burks has had an up and down career since being drafted 12th overall by the Utah Jazz.

He’s a mediocre 35.8 percent 3-point shooter for his career, which is not what teams in the 3-point era are looking for in a shooting guard.

He peaked for the Jazz in 2013-14, when he averaged 14 points as a bench scorer.

Burks then played for Golden State, Cleveland, Sacramento and finally Philadelphia. This season Burks was averaging 15.1 points and 4.4 rebounds before the hiatus.

Burks seemed to finally be putting it all together and has had a decent career. The New Orleans Pelicans could do worse than getting a career rotation player like Burks.

#7 Jeremy Lamb: 2012, Oklahoma City Thunder

Jeremy Lamb‘s career started off slowly for the OKC Thunder and for awhile it looked like he might not stick in the NBA.

But Lamb is one of those guys who just needed more minutes to show what he can do.

The last three seasons he has evolved into an effective scorer and defender off the bench and eventually as a starter for the Indiana Pacers.

Lamb was enjoying one of his best seasons prior to the suspension of play, averaging 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 28.1 minutes per game.

Lamb has improved every year he’s been in the league and will end up being remembered as a solid rotation player.

These three guys are not spectacular, but if the New Orleans Pelicans could land a similar rotation player, they’d be happy.