Pelica Debrief
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New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: 2 Players Worth Moving Up to Get

By Aaron Kellerstrass

Robert Woodard could provide the defense the New Orleans Pelicans need (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Robert Woodard could provide the defense the New Orleans Pelicans need (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Pelicans, Zeke Nnaji
Zeke Nnaji could be a target for the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: Zeke Nnaji will be a high-motor center

Zeke Nnaji: Center, Arizona

Zeke Nnaji is a guy who is projected to go in the late first round, or possibly early in the second.

He is a 7-foot center with an average reach and a  high motor. He shoots over 76 percent from the line and profiles as a guy who could eventually shoot the NBA 3-pointer.

Even though he has good size, especially for his age, Nnaji is not much of a rim protector, and would definitely have to improve in that area, as he doesn’t block a lot of shots.

This lack of rim protection may eventually force Nnaji into being a power forward, but he has the mid-range game to potentially be great in the pick-and-roll.

He averaged 16.1 points and 8.6 boards per game as a freshman and was very impressive at times.

Nnaji has a high motor and really gets after it on the offensive glass, something the Pelicans could definitely use off their bench.

Nnaji is projected to go somewhere around the 30-34th pick, so he is a guy the Pelicans could likely move up to get using picks 39 and 42.

With more teams looking for combo forwards who can defend multiple positions and step out on offense, Nnaji might end up going higher, but if he there in the late first or early second, the Pelicans should consider making a move.