New Orleans Pelicans: Full 2020 NBA Draft grades

New Orleans Pelicans full draft grades: The second round was disappointing

39th and 42nd Picks

Finally! The Pelicans have two picks in the second round so surely they will pick a high-ceiling big man prospect or someone like Jordan Nwora, right?

Wrong.

The Pelicans traded both picks after selecting guys I was really excited about. They selected, then traded Elijah Hughes to the Jazz, then selected Nick Richards, who they traded to the Hornets.

Trading Richards was particularly baffling, as he is a high-ceiling center prospect who can already protect the rim and could have helped the Pelicans as a third big man to develop.

There were also players like the aforementioned Nwora, Paul Reed or Reggie Perry, wing defenders who could have definitely helped the Pelicans’ depth.

As it stands, the Pelicans only took one guy, have five point guards, no depth at either forward position or center and about a million future draft picks.

Again, it is hard to grade this in a vacuum but it wasn’t a very satisfying night, as the Pels did nothing but add future picks, most of them in the second round.

GRADE: C

Overall, the Pelicans’ 2020 NBA Draft was a whole lot of “what could have been” and there will almost certainly be guys that they regret passing on in this draft.

But the Pels will be at the center of many drafts to come with all of their picks and could get in the mix for a blockbuster trade for a star.

FINAL GRADE: C

Giving a C is not very satisfying but it is what it is. The real grade should be INCOMPLETE, as we won’t know how this draft affects the team for many years.