The New Orleans Pelicans will enter the 2021 NBA Draft with five picks and a number of needs.
I’ve suggested that the Pels should trade their first round pick in some type of package to bring back a player but that still leaves four picks in the second round.
The Pelicans could use these picks as ammunition to try and move up into the first round, could look for players that could help them now, draft a few international players to stash overseas or target players to fill out their G-League team.
If the Pelicans do use their second-round picks, they have a number of needs to fill.
Pelicans draft picks: Pels’ needs in the NBA Draft
The Pelicans have a number of roster holes that need to be filled if they want to make a leap next season and make the playoffs.
The Pels need a wing who can play defense, and if that person could shoot, even better.
They definitely need more shooting, as the Pels dropped to one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league, which made it harder for Zion Williamson to do his thing in the paint.
And most the Pelicans just need guys who play hard, can defend their position and aren’t worried about personal stats, as there aren’t a ton of shots to go around with Zion and Brandon Ingram getting most of them.
The Pelicans’ bench has been better since they got rid of crybaby J.J. Redick, who has really proven himself to be a bit of a scumbag since leaving the Pels.
I don’t care about his feelings regarding the front office, but Redick was caught out “liking” posts on Twitter after the Pels were eliminated from the playoffs, which to me is petty and disrespectful to his teammates ,who didn’t do anything to him.
But Redick’s departure did leave a big hole where some shooting should be, which is why the Pels should take a hard look at Johnny Juzang from UCLA In the second round.
New Orleans Pelicans: NBA Draft Prospect Johnny Juzang
Currently the Pelicans own the 35th, 40th and 41st picks in the NBA Draft, and they should use one of them on Johnny Juzang.
Juzang was one of the prospects who helped his case most in the NCAA Tournament as he had some big games and carried his UCLCA Bruins deeper into the tournament than anyone predicted.
Juzang is a 6-foot-6, 210 lb. shooting guard so he has plus size for the position and should be able to play a number of spots on the perimeter.
The kid is an absolute bucket and can score from all over the place, averaging 35 percent from long range on high volume.
Juzang doesn’t have great quickness, but has a knack for getting into the lane and the size to finish once he does, as you can see on three straight plays here:
Even if Juzang can’t get into the lane as easily against NBA defenders, he projects as a guy who will be a plus 3-point shooter in the league and should be an “instant offense” type player off the b bench.
The concerns around Juzang are with his athleticism and defense. He is not the quickest player in the world and might have a hard time staying in front of NBA guards.
But the kid can score and this will be the skill that will get him on an NBA roster.
New Orleans Pelicans draft picks: How Johnny Juzang fits on the Pelicans
The Pelicans need 3-point shooting, which is pretty obvious to anyone who watched them this season.
They plummeted from 4th in the NBA In 3-point percentage last season all the way to 26th this season.
It is especially important if the Pels are going to use Zion Williamson as the primary ball handler, as there were sometimes spacing issues.
Most fans blamed this on Steven Adams, but the reality is that inconsistent shooting from the guards was the real culprit.
The Pelicans need guys who can spread the floor, create shots for themselves and take some of the offensive burden off Zion and Ingram.
Juzang has some big flaws as a prospect, but he should be able to come in and score right away, so he could potentially help the Pelicans as soon as next season.
No second-round prospect is perfect, but Juzang has some of the skills and intangibles the Pelicans need and could be a steal in the second round.