New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: A 2nd round sleeper from Kentucky
New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: Immanuel Quickley’s fit as a second-round pick
Immanuel Quickley’s Fit on the Pelicans
On paper, it doesn’t seem like Quickley is a great fit on the Pelicans, even as a second-round pick. They already have a couple of tweener guards coming off their bench and really could use length on the wing.
But Quickley does have a 6-foot-9 wingspan, so he projects as a guard who could potentially defend multiple positions.
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He can also get buckets in bunches, something the Pelicans lacked off their bench. Other than J.J. Redick, the Pelicans didn’t have the type of bench scorer who could get them in bunches and potentially change a game.
In the NBA, Quickley will likely be more of a spot-up shooter, though he is also good at pulling up off of 1-2 dribbles after creating space.
He could be the sort of lighting in a bottle scorer that Lou Williams, another undersized combo guard, has been over his career, a guy who could come in and get hot from behind the arc.
The Pelicans will need shooters to surround Zion Williamson, so if they could find potentially elite shooting in the second round, they’d have to consider it.
Quickley is also a lights out free throw shooter, which may allow him to finish out games at times. Both Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday are terrible free throw shooters for guards, so the Pelicans need more guys who can hit them at a high rate at the end of games.
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Quickley has the pedigree and skillls to be a potential steal in the second round. If the New Orleans Pelicans want to bet on talent, they should look to Kentucky.