Post Lottery Mock Draft: The New Orleans Pelicans Get Big Wing at 13
2020 NBA Mock Draft: New Orleans Pelicans
Pick Analysis. Scouting Report. Small Forward / Villanova. New Orleans Pelicans. Saddiq Bey. 13. player. 69
The New Orleans Pelicans have some clear holes to fill, which became obvious during the bubble, when the games slowed down and their flaws were exposed.
The biggest being their lack of defense, as the Pelicans were unable to stop points in the paint, dribble penetration or just about anything else.
They need to get bigger, stronger and add some players who pride themselves as defenders. They need a wing to complement Brandon Ingram, a power forward who can rebound and defend and a center who can protect the rim.
Saddiq Bey fits the description of the big wing the Pelicans covet.
Bey is 6-foot-8, so has good size for the position, but most importantly, he has a high motor, plays hard and takes pride in his defense, something the New Orleans Pelicans sorely lacked.
Bey is one of the great unknowns in this draft, as some mocks have him as high as the top-five, while others have him at the bottom of the first round.
He is the prototypical 3-and-D wing that the Pelicans lack, would bring size and energy to the position and would fit in well on this roster, which already has a Villanova player in Josh Hart.
Guys out of Villanova tend to know how to defend and play with energy, which were the two things most missing from the New Orleans Pelicans down the stretch.
The Pelicans have a lot of options with this pick, and if a guy they like isn’t there, may trade down or out of this draft, but if Bey is available, he fits the Pelicans well.
There is also a chance that Sacramento takes Bey, in which case the Pels might just end up with Nesmith. It will be interesting to see how things shake out for these two budding rivals.