Pelica Debrief
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New Orleans Pelicans: Big Wings to Target in Draft

By Tim Burke

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 12: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans defends during the second half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on November 12, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 12: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans defends during the second half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on November 12, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Here are a few wings in the 2020 draft that can help the New Orleans Pelicans take flight.

It’s time for the New Orleans Pelicans to pay attention.

More and more we’re seeing the NBA shift towards wings running a team’s offense. Nowhere is that more the case than when watching the Los Angeles Lakers who finally listed LeBron James as the point guard even though LeBron has effectively been playing point since his time in Miami.

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Recent drafts have given us some players who fit this mold like Jayson Tatum and Ben Simmons. These guys are in the 6’7″ to 6’10” range and come from the big wing mold, as they have success at the highest levels more and more kids will be inspired to be like ‘Bron and run the point.

Tatum, Simmons, and LeBron were all picked in the top three of their drafts with good reason and that’s bad news for New Orleans who doesn’t pick until 13th in this upcoming draft. However, Leonard was selected 15th and Butler all the way down at 30th overall, so there’s a chance that New Orleans can find a big wing to fill the biggest need for this Pelicans’ roster.

If you watched any of the Toronto-Boston series you saw the perfect template for New Orleans to follow in Jaylen Brown, OG Anunoby, and Norman Powell.

Brown is at a different level than Anunoby and Powell but at the very least all of them are above average defenders who can switch between multiple positions and knock down threes at a better than league average rate. Of the three, only Brown was selected in the lottery and Powell was a second-rounder, which bodes well for New Orleans.

The best examples of the big wing who’s capable of switching between multiple positions defensively and nail three-pointers are Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker in Houston. The Rockets have gone super small since the trade deadline with those two playing the “center” and “power forward”.

The key for both of these guys is that they were both power forwards during their time in college. That’s the kind of player New Orleans should target to fill this need alongside Ingram and Zion Williamson.