Be the GM: Guide the New Orleans Pelicans Through the 2020 NBA Draft

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Isaac Okoro’s defensive versatility should interest the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Pelicans select Isaac Okoro in the NBA Draft.

Drafting Isaac Okoro

Isaac Okoro would be an interesting choice here, as he does something that the Pelicans desperately need, which is defend.

Okoro profiles as one of the best all-around defenders in the draft, a guy who could potentially defend 1-4 similar to what Marcus Smart does for Boston.

He’s not much of a shooter, but he can pass and make plays off the dribble. He may never develop into an even league-average 3-point shooter, so this is the move you make if you are banking on him being an elite defender.

PG: Lonzo Ball/Bruce Brown

SG: Jrue Holiday/Josh Hart/J.J. Redick

SF: Brandon Ingram/Isaac Okoro

PF: Zion Williamson/Nicolo Melli

C: Jaxson Hayes/Free Agent

This team would be very versatile defensively, with guys who could switch all over the place. The Pels could always have at least one elite defender on the floor at all times and a Holiday/Brown backcourt would potentially be the best defensive backcourt in the NBA.

If you want to improve the Pelicans’ defense without breaking up the core, this is one way to do it.

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