The New Orleans Pelicans will have four second-round picks in the 2021 NBA Draft and could use them in a number of ways.
It’s doubtful that they will use all four, as they will not have the roster space, but if they do, the Pelicans could opt for prospects that are a little bit older or already have an NBA-ready skill.
The Pelicans already have plenty of high-ceiling young talent with Jaxson Hayes, Kira Lewis Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, so will hopefully grab a player or two in the second round who enters the league a little older, more experienced and ready to play.
When it comes to needs, the Pels have many. They could definitely use a big wing who can defend and shoot. They need rim protection, as only Jaxson Hayes projects as an above-average rim protector and he is not there yet.
They might also need some scoring off their bench depending on how the offseason goes, so if the Pels could fill one or more of those needs in the draft, it would be huge for a team that is going to be strapped for cap space.
Could they find some impact talent in the second round of the NBA Draft?
New Orleans Pelicans: What picks do the Pelicans have in the 2021 Draft?
If the draft were held today, the Pels would hold the 11th pick in the first round and the 36th, 39th, 41st and 49th picks in the second.
The Pels are going to be a player one way or another and could definitely package those second rounders to try and move up to the end of the first round, possibly to grab a guy like Cameron Thomas out of LSU.
If the Pels do keep some or all of their second-round picks, Jay Huff out of Virginia is a guy who could potential check a lot of boxes.
Here are his strengths and weaknesses as well as how he might fit on the New Orleans Pelicans.
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.
Pelicans draft picks: How Jay Huff fits on New Orleans
I am not one of the fans that is obsessed with putting a “floor spacing” big around Zion Williamson, as he has proven that he can make his own space and doesn’t need much help.
But Huff could be that guy, as he has the height to shoot over just about anyone, so if he could be a 40 percent 3-point shooter in the NBA, he would be a nice fit with Zion.
The Pelicans could also use another shot blocker off the bench, especially one that could potentially back up two positions.
The Pels already have three centers but you never know what will happen in the future with Steven Adams and none of the current bigs they have offer much on the offensive end other than put backs.
Huff has a very different skillset than any of the three guys they currently have and may be more of a power forward anyway, so think of him more as a replacement for Nicolo Melli, not someone who would necessarily challenge Hayes and Willy Hernangomez for minutes at center.
Huff would give the Pels a shot blocker who can stretch the floor, which are both things they need but will be hard to find in free agency.
The New Orleans Pelicans are going to be busy on draft night and may end up trading a lot of these picks away but Jay Huff will definitely be a guy they take a look at in the second round.