New Orleans Pelicans: One thing to learn from each Conference Finalist

New Orleans Pelicans: One thing to learn from the Miami Heat

Getting the most out of the draft

The Miami Heat are winning behind the stellar play of Jimmy Butler and a bunch of youngsters.

Not only is Miami winning with young players, but they are almost exclusively guys who were chosen outside of the top-ten in the draft.

Butler (30th), Herro (13th), Adebayo (14th), Duncan Robinson (undrafted), Nunn (undrafted), Derrick Jones (undrafted), Goran Dragic (45th) and Jae Crowder (34th) make up the core of Miami’s team and none of them were drafted in the top-ten.

Miami has been the best team in the NBA at finding talent later in the draft, something the New Orleans Pelicans need to get a lot better at.

None of their draft picks contributed much last season, because of injury in the case of Zion Williamson, but mostly because they weren’t ready in the case of Jaxson Hayes and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

The Heat have gotten steady contributions from guys they drafted or were cast off of other teams, which is one of the big reasons they are in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pelicans simply have to get more out of their draft picks, and while it’s too early to give up on Hayes and NAW, it is discouraging that neither were able to contribute consistently.

The Pelicans have the 13th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the same spot where Miami found Tyler Herro, current darling of the NBA.

If the Pelicans want to be consistent contenders they have to get more out of the draft and find guys who can contribute without needing three years in the G-League.

Herro is showing what can happen when you make the right pick and the Pels need to learn from Miami’s ability to find the gems.