New Orleans Pelicans: Best Draft Fit at Each Position

New Orleans Pelicans: Best Draft Fit at Point Guard

The New Orleans Pelicans are likely to need a backup point guard and could get one in a number of ways.

They could go the veteran route, grabbing a free agent who has the chops to run the second unit, a guy like D.J. Augustin, who would know his role and play it well.

Another option is go for a safe pick in the draft, a guy like Tre Jones, who doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but is already solid and is a lock to be a rotation player for years to come.

In my opinion, the Pelicans should be aggressive if they go for a point guard, which means either trading up to take LaMelo (ideally) or swinging for the fences on upside with R.J. Hampton.

Hampton is one of the more intriguing players in the draft, a guy who can dazzle with his athleticism and scoring ability, but who hasn’t played enough to evaluate.

He’s already been in some high profile games as a pro, most notably against LaMelo, and though he lacks some physical strength, has the potential to be a Ja Morant-type at the next level.

What Hampton has shown is a lighting quick first step and the ability to finish, though some worry his lack of strength will make finishing at the rim difficult for him in the NBA.

Hampton can score in bunches, and though he is more of a scorer than a pass-first point guard, he could fit well with the Pelicans’ second unit.

Hampton can get into the lane, and as he gets better at finding shooters once he does, could be lethal in the pick-and-roll or just kicking it out to guys like J.J. Redick.

Point guard is not a great positional need, as Alvin Gentry can stagger Lonzo and Jrue Holiday and Frank Jackson is still an option for now, but if they do draft a point guard, the Pelicans should go for high upside talent.

Hampton may end up being the best player in this draft, and the Pelicans could give him space to develop the right way.