The New Orleans Pelicans will enter the 2021 NBA Draft with five picks, and though it is very unlikely that they use them all, this is a deep draft in which they could find some talent late.
The Pelicans have some glaring holes that need fixed, so they will explore all avenues to get impact talent in the draft by any means necessary, including trades.
Of course, they still need to find a coach, so that is the first item on David Griffin’s long “to-do” list which will also include finding shooting and improving the team’s horrible defense.
The Pelicans have the 10th pick in the lottery, which I could see them trying to package in a trade to get a proven player to add to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
They also have the 35th, 40th, 43rd and 53rd picks in the second round, and even though 2nd-round picks are always a crapshoot, this is one of the deepest drafts in recent memory, so some good players are going to fall.
Here is a mock draft of what the New Orleans Pelicans might do with those four picks.
New Orleans Pelicans draft picks, No. 35- Johnny Juzang
Johnny Juzang blew up in the NCAA tournament and showed himself to be a dynamic scorer who can get buckets.
His game has flaws, which is why he might fall to the second round, and if he did, Johnny Juzang would be a steal for the Pelicans.
He isn’t the greatest athlete or defender, but can score from both the 3-point line and the mid-range and could give the Pelicans a much-needed boost of offense off the bench.
Juzang may end up creeping into the late first round, and if he does, there will be some teams hoping to move up to get him.
New Orleans Pelicans draft picks, No. 40- Miles McBride
McBride is another guy who would be a steal if he fell to the Pelicans in the 2nd round, as he could bring shooting, as well as a defensive edge, both things the Pelicans need.
McBride hit over 41 percent from the 3-point line in college, though his volume was not high enough to really predict if he can be a good shooter at the next level.
What I like about McBride is that he is a tenacious defender on the ball, which is something the Pelicans really lack. Lonzo Ball can be that guy at times, but also disappears for long stretches and sometimes has difficulties fighting over and through screens.
McBride has a long winspan which he uses to disrupt passing lanes and get steals, so if he can continue to improve his 3-point shooting, he’ll be a guy who will have a career as a 3-and-D guard.
He’s also a guy who might not slip this far, but I have seen him mocked to the Pelicans even later than this, so it’s possible that he will be there when they choose with one of their early second-round picks.
New Orleans Pelicans draft picks, No. 43- Roko Prkačin
Since the Pelicans are extremely unlikely to add five rookies to their roster (or even two for that matter), they could use one of their second-round picks on an international prospect they can stash overseas for a year or two as they did with Didi Louzada.
Roko Prkačin profiles as one of those types of guys, as he has a lot of skill but is only 18-years-old and will need more developmental time before coming to the NBA.
Prkačin is a skilled power forward who is already a very good passer for his size at 6-foot-9 and profiles as a guy who will play more on the perimeter than in the paint, which is good because the Pelicans need space for Zion Williamson to operate.
His 3-point shot is a work in progress, but he is very good in the pick-and-roll and could end up as a point-forward type who initiates the offense.
He has already played some pro ball for Cibona Croatia, so even though he is young, he does have some experience against adult competition.
He’d be a great draft-and-stash candidate for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Draft.
New Orleans Pelicans draft picks, No. 53- Isaiah Livers
When you get near the end of the 2nd round of the NBA Draft, teams are looking for guys who might have slipped for one reason or another, including guys who were injured or upperclassmen who don’t have the highest ceiling but may be able to contribute as role players.
Isiah Livers fits into both of those categories, as he is a 22-year-old senior who is also coming off an injury that could cause him to slide into the late second round of the draft where he is often mocked to the Pelicans.
Livers can shoot the 3-ball and defend, so he is the type of player the Pelicans want to put around Zion, as he is a high motor guy who won’t care about getting his own stats and will be able to knock down open corner 3-pointers when the opportunity arises.
Livers is an interesting guy, as he was having a great season before his injury but because of the risk he presents, could fall out of the draft entirely.
The New Orleans Pelicans have a lot of options with their second-round picks, and if they use them, these are a few of the players who will get a long look.