NBA Draft: Top 3 point guards for the New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: R.J. Hampton could be the draft’s biggest sleeper
R.J. Hampton
You won’t find a more controversial prospect in the draft than R.J. Hampton. There are some who believe his combination of size and quickness will make him a star in the NBA.
There are others who believe his lack of shot will hold him back and make him into the next Michael Carter-Williams, a big point guard who can’t shoot.
One of the knocks against Hampton, other than his shooting, is that he is not strong enough. Well, he has put on some weight in the hiatus and is now 6-foot-6, 190lbs.
I love Hampton’s confidence, as he truly believes he is the best player in this draft and is ready to prove it:
"I think I’m the best prospect in the draft. Just the combination of speed, size, grit, toughness, the ability to change plays on the defensive and offensive end and then having that experience in the NBL," RJ Hampton told me. Great catching up with the potential lottery pick. pic.twitter.com/fBENUE2xMF
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) November 7, 2020
Hampton would give the Pelicans another big point guard option, a guy who could come in and get buckets off the bench or play alongside Jrue Holiday or Lonzo Ball.
He is another tweener, a guy who can play on or off the ball, which is fine because he can be a playmaker anywhere on the floor.
His destiny may be at two-guard, which is why some are concerned about his long-range shooting. He shot less than 30 percent from 3-point range in a very small 15-game sample size for the New Zealand Breakers.
Hampton has experience against real pros and the NBL is a good league, so that should help him in the transition to the NBA.
If nothing else, Hampton will be a potentially elite scoring option off the bench, and if his shot and body continue to develop, he could be a star. He has a higher ceiling than most guards in this range, which is why the Pels should consider him at 13 even if it seems like a reach.