New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: Kaleb Wesson is a compelling sleeper

New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: Kaleb Wesson could be the perfect replacement for Derrick Favors in a center platoon

Kaleb Wesson’s Fit on the Pelicans

For the New Orleans Pelicans, Kaleb Wesson is a sleeper who could be a perfect replacement for Derrick Favors. In my evaluation of Wesson, he has a lot of similarities to Favors in fact.

Not overly athletic, he’s a skilled player and can do a lot of what the Pelicans like on defense. He’ll cover the paint, seal off the post, and if he has to he’ll survive out on the perimeter.

For me, Wesson’s fit on the Pelicans really gets intriguing on the offensive end of the floor. I think Wesson’s ability to play in the post or transition to beyond the arc should work well when next to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

With the attention that the rest of the New Orleans Pelicans roster will draw, having a guy like Wesson who’ll be one-on-one in the post or open for threes will only make the Pelicans roster more efficient on offense.

I like the idea that Wesson’s presence also gives the Pelicans some match-up versatility. In games that’ll be track meets, the Pelicans can put Jaxson Hayes out and give him some development. If there’s a game where the Pelicans would be better served to slow the game down then Wesson can be put in to grind out some games.

With a crisp skillful game, Kaleb Wesson would fill a lot of needs for the New Orleans Pelicans if they draft him in the second round, which is why he’s a compelling sleeper in the 2020 NBA Draft.