New Orleans Pelicans: Tyler Herro Showing 13th Pick Can Make an Impact

The New Orleans Pelicans can get an impact talent with the 13th pick.

The New Orleans Pelicans find themselves picking in the middle of the 2020 NBA Draft, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get an impact talent.

Just ask the Miami Heat, who are trying to ride the hot shooting hand of their 20-year-old rookie to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Tyler Herro was chosen 13th in the 2019 Draft, which should give the New Orleans Pelicans some hope that they too can find a contributor late in the lottery.

The emergence of Herro and Kendrick Nunn is a big reason the Miami Heat are in a position to knock off the Bucks and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Herro has averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the season but has been even better in the playoffs, bumping those numbers up to 14.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting 39.6% on six three point attempts per game.

Herro has scored in double digits in each playoff game, becoming a weapon off the Heat bench who has carried them through some dry spells and hit some huge shots.

New Orleans Pelicans: The 13th Pick in the NBA Draft has produced talent.

The reason the Heat were able to go from out of the playoffs in 2018-19 to the 5th seed with a chance at the Eastern Conference Finals is because they found value in the draft and got internal improvements from their young players.

Herro has been a steal with the 13th pick, Kendrick Nunn was a risk that paid off big time and Bam Adebayo went from role player to All-Star.

If the New Orleans Pelicans can make the right pick at 13 and get some internal improvements from guys like Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and even Zion Williamson, they too could make the leap from fringe playoff team to contender.

Luckily there is a history of finding talent with the 13th pick, so the Pelicans have a solid chance. Pick right, and they can add a Herro type who makes an immediate impact.