NBA Draft: The New Orleans Pelicans should trade up for this defender

The New Orleans Pelicans should trade up to get an impact defender in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The New Orleans Pelicans have three picks in the second round of the NBA Draft and should try to package them to find one impact player.

The Pelicans need defense all over the floor, especially at the forward position, where they have no backup for Brandon Ingram and only Nicolo Melli backing up Zion Williamson.

Ideally, the Pelicans could find a big in the draft or free agency who can defend multiple spots and maybe even play some center in small-ball lineups.

The Miami Heat showed how important defensive versatility is, as Bam Adebayo was able to defend multiple positions, which gave them a lot of options on both ends and allowed them to put more shooters on the floor.

Teams are going away from traditional centers, but instead want guys who can defend, shoot and run the floor.

There are a few potentially elite defensive players in this year’s draft, but unless the Pelicans want to reach with their 13th pick or trade up, they probably won’t get one.

Impact defenders like James Wiseman, Isaac Okoro and Onyeka Okongwu will likely be gone by the time the New Orleans Pelicans choose in the first round, but luckily they will still have three picks to work with.

The Pelicans have the 39th, 42nd and 60th picks in the NBA Draft, and if they could trade all three to move up a few spots, they should do it if Xavier Tillman is still available.

Tillman was the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year and is my pick to be this year’s impact defender in the draft.

He’s ranked by most sites in the low-30’s but could get drafted at the end of the first round. Here’s why the Pelicans should trade up to get him.