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

New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: Robert Woodard II will be a defensive specialist

Robert Woodard II: Small Forward, Mississippi State

After the performance Bam Adebayo has put on this year, particularly in the playoffs, teams are going to be looking for long combo forwards who can defend multiple positions.

Adebayo has added a decent mid-range jumper to his high-energy, defensive game, which is why he was one of the finalists for Most Improved Player.

Robert Woodard II out of Mississippi State profiles as a similar type player, as he can get after it on the defensive end, but still has a raw offensive game.

He is 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and can leap out of the building. He can defend positions 1-4 and gives opposing offensive players trouble with his length.

He didn’t take many 3-pointers but he knocked down 43 percent of them on 2.3 attempts per game, so he is limited but can still stretch the floor.

If Woodard makes a rotation next year it will be because of his high energy and defense, two things the Pelicans desperately need.

These are the types of guys the Pels need to target, as they have the skillset the Pelicans require but also have something to prove.

If the New Orleans Pelicans can package their second round picks to move up and get an impact talent, they should definitely consider these two players.