New Orleans Pelicans: 13th pick is the sweet spot in the 2020 NBA Draft

The New Orleans Pelicans are in one of the best spots to find a star the 2020 NBA Draft

With the 2020 NBA Draft just over a month away, the New Orleans Pelicans find themselves in a great position with the 13th pick in the draft.

I know, many Pelicans might be wondering how is having the 13th pick great? A low lottery pick, there’s nothing special about that. Well, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Don’t believe me? Just listen to the Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor in his recent NBA podcast. If you’re like me then you’ll find that O’Connor’s analysis is eye-opening and exciting for the New Orleans Pelicans draft outlook.

What O’Connor breaks down is that there’s been an incredible array of stars taken at the end of the lottery in recent seasons. He notes Tyler Herro taken last year at pick 13 along with players like Donovan Mitchell (13th pick in 2017), Bam Adebayo (14th pick in 2017), Devin Booker (13th pick in 2015), and Zach Lavine (13th pick in 2014).

Notice a pattern? Specifically, there’s an array of strong wings taken with 13th pick in the draft who become stars in recent years. With the New Orleans Pelicans needing a versatile wing, this should make fans giddy.

The 2020 NBA Draft is particularly strong on wings as well with players like Aaron Nesmith, Isaac Okoro, Tyrese Maxey, and Shaddiq Bey highlighting a handful of wings that the New Orleans Pelicans can take at pick 13.

We’ve read and even written a lot about the New Orleans Pelicans trading up to a top-3 slot in the draft, but this analysis is now changing my mind. If the Pelicans take advantage of all the scouting time they have then they should find an ideal prospect with star potential at pick 13.

Finding a star at pick 13 would accelerate the New Orleans Pelicans timeline and be beneficial to the team’s front office allowing them to save future picks and prospects to use in trades for proven contributors down the line.

We’ll be anxiously waiting to see what the New Orleans Pelicans do this offseason, but if they stay at pick 13 I think Pelicans fans should feel confident that a good player will come at that pick.