New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: 2 Senior sleepers for the second round

New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft sleepers: Payton Pritchard

Payton Pritchard: Point Guard, Oregon

Payton Pritchard is another senior point guard who might end up being a second-round steal for someone in the NBA Draft.

Pritchard started getting some notice from New Orleans Pelicans’ fans after footage emerged of him torching NBA players in a scrimmage, including Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

https://twitter.com/swishcultures_/status/1319045754137182209

What I like about Pritchard is that he is a winner. He won four straight state titles in high school and the Oregon Ducks won the Pac-12 this season even though they didn’t get to enjoy the spoils.

Pritchard averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 41.5 percent from 3-point range on 6.8 attempts per game. That kind of accuracy and volume from behind the arc usually translates to the next level.

Pritchard is skilled with the ball and very good at getting into the lane for his own shot or setting up teammates. He doesn’t turn the ball over much and always seems to make the right play.

He’s very good at finishing in the open court and has “in the gym” range when it comes to shooting. That alone will get him a look from someone, as this guy can flat out score.

He doesn’t have great size at 6-foot-2 and isn’t an elite athlete, but he knows how to score and could be instant offense for someone off the bench or the perfect skill player to put around other penetrating guards.

In a draft with so many unknowns, teams might be more open to taking older players who have proven they can get it done.

Skyler Mays and Payton Pritchard are two guys who have the smarts and skills to be impact role players in the NBA and the New Orleans Pelicans should take a hard look at both with their picks in the NBA Draft.