New Orleans Pelicans: How to fix the Pels in one offseason

New Orleans Pelicans: The types of players the Pels need to draft

If there is one area where David Griffin has taken some heat, it’s the draft, as he has not drafted well yet outside of Zion Williamson.

Hayes has yet to show how he can fit on this team even though he is a freakish athlete for his size and could end up being a plus-shot blocker.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker can’t beat out a teenage rookie or old Redick for minutes and hasn’t shown much in two seasons.

Kira Lewis Jr. has shown flashes but might be too small to be a full-time point guard in the league, so David Griffin needs to hit in this next draft or risk going another season without adding impact talent.

There were some big what-ifs from the last draft, most notably what if Griffin had just taken Saddiq Bey as many of us were screaming? He is a 6-foot-8 defender who can shoot 3-pointers, which is exactly what the Pelicans need.

Obviously, if they end up landing in the top-3, everything changes, but if not, the Pels need to draft players for need and fit, not just tantalizing athletic talent as they have the last two seasons. They need to draft the athletic, rim running wings that they need to compete defensively and if any of them can shoot even better.

The New Orleans Pelicans have three pieces that most of the league envies, but they don’t have much else. David Griffin is not on the hot seat yet, but he will be if he can’t  make recognizable improvement to this roster in the offseason.