New Orleans Pelicans Draft Profile: Defensive Wing Precious Achiuwa
The New Orleans Pelicans may look to add more size and defense on the wing and Precious Achiuwa would be one way to do it.
The New Orleans Pelicans are in an enviable position coming into the 2020 NBA Draft. With no glaring weaknesses and plenty of young talent, they can draft the player they feel can help them most now, or simply go for the best talent available.
The Pelicans may not have any huge holes, but they definitely have some needs. They will likely need a backup point guard, a veteran center, shooters to stretch the floor and they’d like to get bigger and stronger on the wing.
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The New Orleans Pelicans are very talented, buy they are also young, which means many of their players still haven’t developed the type of strength they need to stop guys like LeBron James.
It showed. LeBron went through the spindly arms of the Pelicans’ defenders like they weren’t there, getting wherever he wanted on the floor with little resistance.
Obviously there is only one LeBron, but the New Orleans Pelicans were torched all year by bigger wings, which is a problem, as the NBA is currently loaded with them.
Brandon Ingram is a gifted scorer and was playing like a young Durant, but he still lacks strength, though he is getting better defensively.
Other than Ingram and Darius Miller, who is 30-years-old and coming off an injury, the New Orleans Pelicans don’t have a single wing signed for next season.
Josh Hart can occasionally fill that role, but cannot hold down full-time defensive duties against the bigger wings of the NBA.
Some of this will change as the Pelicans age, get stronger and fill out. Most players don’t come into the league with much of a physique and will put on muscle as they spend more time with NBA trainers.
The Pelicans can certainly address this need via free agency, as there is an interesting crop of free agent wings that could fill the 3-and-D role that they currently lack.
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The New Orleans Pelicans could also choose to address this need in the draft with a guy like Precious Achiuwa from the University of Memphis.
Achiuwa is one of the lesser-known prospects in this year’s draft, as he played part of the season in the shadow of teammate James Wiseman.
But in the end, Achiuwa could be the more productive prospect for the New Orleans Pelicans. Let’s take a look at his strengths, weaknesses and how he fits on the team.