The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t get any luck in the NBA Draft lottery, so they will choose 10th in the upcoming NBA Draft.
The Pelicans only had a slight chance to jump into the top four, so it wasn’t a big shock when they stayed at 10, though it was disappointing.
The Pelicans have a number of options with this pick and are likely to explore trade possibilities using it as an asset.
But this is also a very deep draft, and though there is a consensus top five, there are still some very good players who would help fix some of their glaring holes.
New Orleans Pelicans: Two players for the 10th pick in the NBA Draft
I’ve already written quite a lot about Davion Mitchell and Corey Kispert, so I won’t belabor the point, but they are the two guys most mocked to the Pelicans with the 10th pick.
This makes sense, as Mitchell is thought to be one of the best one-on-one defenders in this draft, is electric in the open court and can shoot the 3-point shot. He is already drawing comparisons to Donovan Mitchell, and no, the two are not related.
Kispert also makes a lot of sense and may be the perfect prospect for this current Pelicans’ roster. He is probably the best shooter in the draft, and even though he does not project to be a great defender, he has good size and should be able to at least hold his own.
I think if either one of these two are still on the board when the New Orleans Pelicans choose with the 10th pick, they will get a long look and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if one of them is in New Orleans next season.
New Orleans Pelicans: Jalen Johnson is a high ceiling wing in the NBA Draft
Jalen Johnson is one of the most interesting prospects in the entire draft, as he has all of the physical tools to be an elite wing but some question his mental makeup.
He quit halfway through his season at Duke, a red flag that might hurt his draft status, as most big boards have him ranked in the top ten.
If you ignore these rumblings, there is a lot to like about Johnson, as he is a 6-foot-9 forward, who is already a very good defender and 3-point shooter, which is pretty much the exact type of player the Pelicans want to put around Zion Williamson.
Johnson averaged 1.2 blocks per game, 1.2 steals and averaged 44 percent from the 3-point line, so his floor is a pretty good 3-and-D player.
His ceiling is much more, but Johnson is going to have to impress teams during the Draft Combine to prove to them that he has what it takes to succeed at the next level.
If he drops to the 10th spot, the Pelicans might take a risk on him as a high-ceiling talent who very much fits the description of what they need.
New Orleans Pelicans: James Bouknight could add scoring as the 10th pick in the NBA Draft
James Bouknight is a guy who has been rocketing up most mock draft boards in recent weeks.
He is an electric scorer out of UCONN who scout Mike Schmitz called “arguably the most effortless scorer in the draft.”
Sophomore guard James Bouknight showed exactly why he's one of the most dynamic scorers in the country with a 40 piece on 13-for-24 shooting against Creighton. UConn ran out of gas in OT but Bouknight looked like a potential top-10 pick. Scores it effortlessly at all 3 levels. pic.twitter.com/0rA5DlyORV
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) December 21, 2020
Bouknight can score from anywhere, rebounds well for his position and has quick hands, averaging over a steal per game.
He is the type of player who could immediately make an impact off the Pelicans’ bench, which was one of the worst in the NBA last season and desperately needs an injection of talent and scoring.
The Pelicans need more players who can create off the bounce and get to the rim and finish and Bouknight has shown he can be that guy, putting up some monster numbers in college.
The New Orleans Pelicans could definitely trade this pick, but if they decide to keep it, there is some talent available that can help right away.