Pelicans Draft: 4 Shooting Guards to consider if Jrue Holiday is traded

4 Shooting guards the New Orleans Pelicans could draft to fill a void if Jrue Holiday is traded

Here we are, only a couple of hours away from the NBA offseason opening up. At 12 pm today, NBA teams will begin to make trades that could turn their fortunate for the upcoming season. That means that every New Orleans Pelicans will have their eyes peeled to see what happens to Jrue Holiday.

Of course, we all know that Holiday has been the subject of trade speculation all offseason and that speculation certainly turned into reality with reports from Shams Charania, and Kevin O’Connor last week.

What some fans don’t know is that following the opening of the trade season in a few hours will come the 2020 NBA draft on Wednesday. And with the Pelicans having 4 picks over the course of the two rounds and the potential for more in the Holiday trade. I thought now would be the perfect opportunity to evaluate four shooting guards who the Pelicans could select as their Jrue Holiday replacement. Let’s have a look.

Aaron Nesmith could give the New Orleans Pelicans the perfect 3-and-D shooting guard who can fill some of Jrue Holiday’s main duties

Aaron Nesmith- Vanderbilt

The first shooting guard I decided to cover, was one that we’ve already considered as a fit for the New Orleans Pelicans, and a player that has been mocked to them at pick 13 for some time now. That player is Vanderbilt’s, Aaron Nesmith.

What stands out about Nesmith is the fact that he’s an absolute flamethrower. A smooth shooter who hit at an insane rate from 3 point range at the NCAA level, Nesmith is widely considered to be the best shooter in the draft.

He’s not the ball handler or distributor that Holiday is, but he’s certainly a better shooter and someone who could be considered a great outlet scorer for the Pelicans other stars. I certainly can imagine Nesmith drilling wide-open corner 3s, or coming off screens in Van Gundy’s offense.

What impresses me most about Nesmith’s potential though, is the fact that he’s a keen defender who’s only getting better at guarding on the perimeter. That’s why I think he could fill Holiday’s void and be valuable for the Pelicans.

The one thing the team will miss if Holiday is traded later today or in the coming days is his defense. He’s excellent at attacking opposing guards so the Pelicans could benefit from adding the younger and quicker Nesmith and have him do the same thing.

Think the 13th pick is a little too rich for a 3-and-D starter? Okay, well let’s look at a sleeper.