#6 and 5: Big Misses, More Mediocrity
While the last four picks were responsible for spoiling the Paul era of New Orleans’ basketball, these next two were guilty of ruining the Anthony Davis era.
If these two picks had gone well, the New Orleans Pelicans would likely be a very different team, as they may have been able to build a dynasty around Davis.
Instead Davis whined until he got his way, and was eventually traded to the Lakers for the haul we all know and love.
These two picks really shaped the current New Orleans Pelicans roster, and to be honest, we’re kind of glad it didn’t work out.
#6: Austin Rivers, 10th Pick, 2012
When Austin Rivers ranks this high on your last ten draft picks, you know something went wrong.
Rivers is not terrible and has had a decent career as a bench scorer, most notably for the 2017-18 Clippers when he averaged 15.1 points and four assists per game.
Rivers was never very good for the Pelicans, who had a chance to make a big splash in 2012 with the number one and 10 pick in the draft.
On paper, surrounding Davis with shooters was probably not a bad idea, but games aren’t played on paper and Rivers was never worthy of a top-ten pick, even in a weak draft.
The seven-foot Justin Bieber, Meyers Leonard might have been a better choice, which is all you need to know.
#5: Nerlens Noel, 6th Pick, 2013
It’s sad that we are into the top-five and still haven’t gotten to a starter, but that’s just how grim the last ten years of the draft have been for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Luckily they were able to grift the Philadelphia 76ers, who inexplicably traded Jrue Holiday for the rights to Nerlens Noel, who has been a career role player.
Holiday is the now the team leader and one of the best two-way guards in the league, so this one actually worked out for the New Orleans Pelicans, though having Noel in your top-five of anything is not a good sign for the franchise.