Pelicans NBA Draft: Jay Huff could be a second-round fit for Pels

Pelicans draft picks: Jay Huff ‘s strengths

As I mentioned, the Pelicans don’t really need anymore teenagers on this team, so the fact that Huff is a senior might actually be a benefit in this case. He’ll be almost 23 at the time of the draft, so while he might not have as high a ceiling as some other prospects, we at least know what he is and what he can do.

Huff is 7-foot-1 and projects as a guy who will be a stretch-four or five type in the NBA, as he can step out and hit the 3-point shot already. He has NBA range and hit over 38 percent of them in college on three attempts per game, numbers that should translate to the next level.

He also hits 83 percent from the line, another sign that his shot will be there in the NBA.

Huff is also a plus shot blocker, which is something that could appeal to the Pelicans. He averaged 2.6 blocks per game in his final season at Virginia and looked like a guy who could be an impact shot blocker at the next level.

He has pretty good handles for a big guy and could eventually be very good in the NBA pick-and-roll, especially if his shot continues to improve. He has a little Danilo Gallinari vibe, though he is not nearly the playmaker Gallinari is.

Pelicans draft picks: Jay Huff’s weaknesses

Huff got a lot of his buckets in the paint in college, which he may not be athletic enough to do in the NBA. Huff can actually create off the bounce, but will he be able to do it against NBA defenders?

There is also some question about who he will guard in the NBA, as some scouts view him as more of a power forward than a center. He can definitely block shots from the weak side but is he strong enough to defend NBA power forwards and centers?

Huff doesn’t have the lateral quickness to switch on the perimeter so there is also concern that teams will just pick-and-roll him to death to keep him away from the rim, setting up mismatches and negating his shot blocking.

Huff is not a perfect prospect by any means, as no second rounders are, but he does have a skillset that would fit in with the New Orleans Pelicans.