New Orleans Pelicans 2020 NBA Draft: The Best Fit By Advanced Metrics

Tyrese Maxey Should Be the Pelicans Pick at #13

With my assessment of the team’s advanced metrics and identification of the team’s weakness at the shooting guard position, I believe the New Orleans Pelicans should select Kentucky shooting-guard Tyrese Maxey with the 13th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

What Maxey brings to the Pelicans is just what the team needs to contend with Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson going forward. He’s a guard who has superstar potential and he covers all the worst parts of the New Orleans Pelicans offense.

Ironically, Maxey’s game reminds me of a young Jrue Holiday, a shot-creator who knows how to attack the rim. In his lone season at Kentucky, Maxey got to the free-throw line 4 times a game with an 83 percent stroke at the line.

Tyrese Maxey was also one of the primer clutch performers in the NCAA this season. Put on a highlight reel for Maxey and you’ll see him hit game-winners, make clutch free-throws, and pull out key stops to win a game.

In spurts this season, Maxey was showcasing lockdown defense too, the type of defense that once put Jrue Holiday on the NBA’ All-Defensive team.

Now that I’ve spent a large chunk of two days assessing the New Orleans Pelicans and Tyrese Maxey this is the best pick for the team in the 2020 Draft. Maxey is potentially the franchise scoring guard that the New Orleans Pelicans need to be the perfect foil to a growing frontcourt.