NBA Draft: A Potential Hidden Gem for the New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans: How does Patrick Williams Fit?

The New Orleans Pelicans don’t have any glaring weaknesses but they definitely have a few holes and one of them is on the wing.

With potentially only Brandon Ingram on the books for next year (assuming they re-sign him), the Pelicans need to add size and defense to the forward position.

They have struggled against elite wings, especially the big ones like LeBron and Kawhi, so the Pelicans need to get bigger and more physical at the forward position.

Williams projects as a tough, 3-and-D wing who will defend multiple spots and do it with physicality. The guy is already stacked with muscle, weighs 225 lbs. and is only 18 years old.

There might be prospects like Saddiq Bey, who already shoot the ball better and also offer potentially elite defense, but when you factor in his age, size and defensive capability, Williams could be better.

The knocks against Williams are the same ones people had against Kawhi and Giannis, which is that they would never be able to shoot well enough.

If there is one thing that is certain, it’s that players can improve their shot, so if Williams’ perceived lack of jumper is his biggest weakness, it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.

This is a guy who has risen up the draft boards in recent weeks and probably would have even more so if he had gotten the chance to play in conference tournaments, March Madness and the Chicago combine.

The best player in the 2020 NBA Draft very well may end up being someone few people have heard of, a player like Patrick Williams.

He is a potential sleeper pick for the New Orleans Pelicans, a guy a lot of teams may regret passing on in a few years.