New Orleans Pelicans NBA Mock Draft: Finding the next Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic shows New Orleans Pelicans that passing more important than shooting (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
Nikola Jokic shows New Orleans Pelicans that passing more important than shooting (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Pelicans NBA Mock Draft: #11 Pick

Devin Vassell. 11. player. 29. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Shooting Guard / Florida State. San Antonio Spurs

Vassell is the type of prototypical 3-and-D guy that the Spurs love and is the type of team defender that would work well with Popovich.

With DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge getting near the end of their careers, Devin Vassell would give the team a safe pick to begin that retool.

Vassell does not have the highest ceiling, but at 6-foot-7 he has the size to guard multiple positions. He has averaged a block and 1.4 steals as a Sophomore at Florida State, the exact kind of defensive chops that the Spurs love for their system.

Though they already have up and coming Lonnie Walker on the perimeter, Popovich can never have too many wings, and Vassell projects as one of the better perimeter defenders in this draft.

Vassell adds depth and could probably be part of the rotation right away, which makes it possible for the Spurs to try and trade DeRozan and rebuild.

The Spurs are not used to being in the lottery after making the playoffs for 22 straight seasons,  so it will be interesting to see what Popovich is able to do with a pick this high in the draft if the Spurs end up out of the playoffs.