The New Orleans Pelicans will have one eye on the NCAA tournament when it kicks off today, as there are a number of possible draft picks who will be featured.
The Pelicans currently find themselves tied for the 8th-worst record in the NBA, which gives them a fighting chance of landing a top-four pick and long shot odds at the first pick overall.
While that would be amazing, it’s more likely that the Pels will fall into the 8-12 range in the lottery once things shake out in the regular season.
They can still find impact talent in this range, especially in this draft, which is projected to be deep with talent.
New Orleans Pelicans: What draft picks do the Pels have for 2021?
Right now, the Pelicans have three picks in the 2021 NBA Draft though that could change based on where the Lakers end up.
The Pelicans have their own pick in the first round, but right now the Lakers’ pick would defer to 2022, as it is protected at 8-30, so unlikely to be conveyed this season.
They also own two picks in the second round that could both be good, as one comes from the awful Cavaliers and another from the Wizards who are also heading towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
If things were to end today the Pelicans would have the 8th pick in the first round and the 35th and 36th picks in the second.
The Tennessee vs. Oregon State game today features two prospects who could fall into that range, one in the first round and one in the second.
Possible Pelicans draft picks: Yves Pons
Yves Pons is a 6-foot-6 small forward from France who would probably have to have a brilliant tournament to put himself in the running as a second round pick for the New Orleans Pelicans.
He does have a skillset that the Pels covet, as he has the size to play both forward positions and is known more as a defensive specialist who can rebound.
These are things that the Pelicans need, so it is not out of the question that they would reach for Pons in the second round even though he is a senior who will be 22 at the time of the draft.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for a team that has a lot of youth already, as the Pels already have several project players and could use one of their second-round picks on an upperclassman who has a lower ceiling but will come into the NBA ready to play.
Pons has the defensive chops to get chosen in the second round but is currently being projected to go more towards the end of it, so might be well out of the Pels’ range.
He will probably end up getting a look from someone, as he can bring defensive energy off the bench though he is not much of a shooter.
He is a long shot for the Pelicans, even in the second round but a good tournament could boost his profile.
Possible Pelicans draft picks: Keon Johnson
Keon Johnson is a guy I have actually seen mocked to the Pelicans a few times, so he is much more likely to be a guy they could draft.
He also would fill an immediate need, as Johnson is a shooting guard with good size who projects to be a plus-defender in the NBA.
He is not much of a scorer, but you might have noticed the Pels have plenty of those. You also might have noticed that their defense is among the worst in the NBA, so choosing a guy who projects as a defensive specialist is not a bad option.
Johnson’s number are not going to jump out at you, but he is a lengthy and athletic shooting guard who is active on defense and has the tools to be a plus-defender, which is something the Pels desperately need, especially with the way Eric Bledsoe has devolved on that end.
Johnson can get to the rack and finish in traffic, which is another thing the Pels need from the perimeter but he is a terrible shooter, so that is a big knock against him.
He is another player whose draft status could be improved with a big showing in the tournament, starting tonight against Oregon State.
It would be nice to see Tennessee win this one, as Johnson is a guy in the Pelicans’ range and I’d love to see more of him before the draft.
The New Orleans Pelicans can’t afford to take any more duds in the draft and will be watching these tournament games closely.