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.
New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: Xavier Tillman is the draft’s best defender
Xavier Tillman’s Strengths
It amazes me that teams continue to sleep on guys who can play defense.
Even after Draymond Green showed that an elite defender could be the final piece to a title team, the NBA often overlooks guys who don’t have a flashy offensive game.
Tillman is going to be one of those guys. He has the size at 6-foot-9, 245 lbs. to defend multiple spots, has quick hands and most importantly, is a smart player who knows how to make a difference.
Tillman is one of those guys who is constantly disrupting plays with blocked shots, deflections and effort. Here he is getting into passing lanes for deflections and generally causing havoc that often leads to buckets on the other end.
Tillman averaged 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game for the Spartans, while also adding 10.3 rebounds and three assists.
Tillman is not much of a scorer and shoots a poor percentage from 3-point range, but he affects the game in a variety of ways, much like Draymond Green.
He is a savvy passer who can run the offense from the elbow and he brings a non-stop motor, which is something the Pelicans lacked last season.
Tillman is going to be an impact defender in the NBA, possibly the best one in this draft, so why is he going to fall to the second round?
New Orleans Pelians NBA Draft: Xavier Tillman needs a shot
Xavier Tillmans’ Weaknesses
The biggest knocks on Tillman are his age (nearly 22) and the fact that he is not a knockdown shooter.
There are question marks around his athleticism, particularly his quickness, but Tillman makes up for it with defensive positioning and quick hands.
He’s kind of a tweener who played center in college, but that is the way the NBA is trending. Big combo forwards who can defend are more valuable than shot-blocking seven-footers who might not be able to run the floor.
Tillman didn’t attempt many three-pointers which is also concerning for a guy who will play mostly on the wing. He could develop a reliable mid-range jumper over time, but Tillman cannot shoot and would be a guy teams will sag off of, which could be a problem for a team that is trying to clear space in the lane.
Tillman makes up for his lack of shooting by being a good passer, so would be a good fit in Stan Van Gundy’s offense (more on that in a minute) even though he is not a prototypical 3-and-D type player.
Tillman’ biggest weaknesses are things that can be overcome, especially if he is an elite defender, which is exactly what the New Orleans Pelians need.
The New Orleans Pelicans need an elite defender in the NBA Draft
How Xavier Tillman fits on the Pelicans
It’s no secret that the Pelicans need defenders.
They were woeful on defense, especially in the bubble, where they got torched by big wings and just about everyone else.
Zion Williamson is not yet a great defender and may never be, so the Pelicans need to surround him with guys who can defend the rim and who will dedicate themselves to the defensive boards.
Tillman is a great defensive rebounder, which would allow Zion to continue to run out for fast-break dunks, which is a huge weapon for the Pelicans.
Tillman can defend three different positions at least, which would give SVG a lot of defensive versatility and lineup flexibility.
SVG’s offense relies on an inside-out approach and quick ball movement, which suits Tillman well. He is not a slasher who is going to beat people off the dribble, but makes good decisions with the ball and can be a very good passer, much like Draymond Green.
Draymond can’t shoot either, but he is a good passer, sets effective screens and knows how to find the open man.
Tillman could be a similar player in the Pelicans’ offense, as he has the smarts and passing ability to play on the perimeter and run the pick-and-roll, even if he can’t shoot.
Tillman is an ideal fit as a defender for the New Orleans Pelicans, and should be available to them, even if they had to trade up to get him. If Tillman falls to say the 32nd pick, the Pelicans should try to push all three of their picks into the middle to move up.
Impact defenders are more important than scorers for the New Orleans Pelicans, which is why they should trade up in the NBA Draft to get one.