2020 NBA Draft: How Precious Achiuwa fits with the New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans should go with defense in the 2020 NBA Draft.
If the New Orleans Pelicans learned one thing by watching the NBA playoffs, it’s that defense matters. The Pels have four picks in the 2020 NBA Draft and should use them to try and get better on the defensive end.
Miami and Los Angeles were two of the top defensive teams in the league, with the Lakers putting out a huge lineup that went against all advanced metrics and won anyway. A team that can’t play small ball or shoot 3-pointers? How can this be?
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The Lakers did it with defense, rolling out a team that featured elite defenders all over the floor. It didn’t matter that most of them can’t shoot.
The New Orleans Pelicans can, in fact, shoot, but it didn’t make much difference this season, as they couldn’t stop anyone and ended up watching the playoffs from home.
If the Pelicans want to join the Western Conference elite, they must improve on their 20th ranked defense and they can start in the NBA Draft.
The Pelicans have the 13th, 39th, 42nd and 60th picks in the draft and should use them on high ceiling players who add size, energy and defense.
Enter Precious Achiuwa.
Even though his teammate James Wiseman has gotten most of the attention, it is Precious Achiuwa who may end up being the better prospect, as he is tailor-made for the modern game.
Achiuwa has been moving up draft boards consistently for months and many think he will end up going in the top-ten.
But if he doesn’t, the New Orleans Pelicans should give him serious consideration, as Achiuwa could strengthen a lot of their weaknesses.