The New Orleans Pelicans have been up and down all season even though Zion Williamson has been spectacular.
They are still only two games back of the final play-in spot and still have three more games against the Warriors, so even though the Pels have a losing record and are facing myriad injuries, they are somehow still in the running for the playoffs.
It’s more likely that they’ll end up in the lottery again, so it’s never too early too think about who they might select with their first-round pick.
The Pelicans will enter the draft with one goal in mind, which is to find players who complement Zion Williamson, as he is their superstar and the guy they will build around for the foreseeable future.
We’ve talked about the types of players that would be good fits with Zion Williamson and there are a lot of guys in this year’s draft who fit the profile.
Here are three players in the 2021 NBA Draft that have the complementary skills to play with Zion Williamson.
Possible New Orleans Pelicans draft picks: Corey Kispert
Yesterday I wrote that the Pelicans need to find a player or two in this draft that already has an elite NBA-ready skill.
The Pelicans already have three guys with nebulous “high ceiling” talent who do not yet have defined roles in Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis Jr. so it would be nice if they could get a guy at the back end of the lottery who has a skill to build around and an immediate role with the team.
Corey Kispert is one of those guys.
Kispert is already 22-years-old and has an elite NBA skill that will immediately translate. He is a lights-out shooter from behind the arc, hitting 44 percent on high volume and he is a super efficient scorer in general, especially for a guy who mostly shoots jumpers.
He is not a liability on defense and could immediately upgrade the Pels’ 3-point shooting, which has taken a big dip this season.
They especially need scoring off the bench and Kispert could provide it. His floor spacing and ability to draw defenses away from the hoop would be a nice complement to Zion Williamson and would make all the “spacing” truthers happy for once.
Possible New Orleans Pelicans draft picks: Usman Garuba
Another thing the Pelicans desperately need is players who are dedicated on the defensive end.
Usman Garuba is definitely not a polished prospect, but he projects as a guy who could be an elite defender in the NBA and is the type of rim protector that the Pels would love around Zion Williamson.
Garuba has been playing in the Spanish league, so most fans have not seen much of him and his numbers are not going to jump off the page.
He can’t shoot, and outside of finishing at the rim, doesn’t offer much offensively.
Where Garuba has people excited is on the defensive end, where he could end up making an impact right away even though he is still very young.
Scouts rave about Garuba’s ability to switch all over the floor defensively, his explosive athleticism and his ability to protect the rim.
He already has an NBA frame at 6-foot-8, 230 lbs. and has shown the ability to defend multiple spots, which is something the Pelicans need off their bench.
He is a project offensively and may never get there, but if the Pelicans want to add a guy who could end up being an elite defender around Zion Williamson, then Garuba will get a look, especially if the Pels are picking near the end of the lottery or just outside of it.
Possible New Orleans Pelicans draft picks: Jalen Johnson
I’ve already written a detailed draft profile of Jalen Johnson and he’s another guy who could be a perfect fit with Zion Williamson.
Johnson has been a controversial prospect going back to high school and didn’t help his case by ending his season at Duke early.
If you take his off-the-court concerns away, this guy might be a top-five pick, as he has all of the tools to be a modern NBA wing.
Johnson is 6-foot-9, 220 lbs. and has already flashed elite defense and playmaking ability for his size.
The Pelicans have been searching for someone to defend the wing all season and have yet to find him so Johnson could fill an immediate need.
He is the type of long, versatile defender that the Pels need to target. His jump shot has not been impressive thus far, but he projects as a guy who will eventually be a solid 3-and-D wing in the NBA, which is precisely what the Pelicans need to put around Zion Williamson.
The Pels have plenty of scoring but have the 29th ranked defense in the NBA, so guys like Jalen Johnson should be their focus.
Zion Williamson is the cornerstone for the New Orleans Pelicans and they need to use this draft to find guys who complement his unique skills.