New Orleans Pelicans: 3 defenders to target in the NBA Draft
The New Orleans Pelicans have five picks in the upcoming NBA Draft and a huge need for defense, which they could use some of those picks to address.
This draft is top heavy but deep, and there are guys at all three levels who could help the Pelicans on defense.
The Pels not only have the 10th pick in the lottery but have four picks in the second round that they might be able to use to move into the first or select project players to develop.
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I looked at three defenders in this particular NBA Draft, one they could take with the number 10 pick, one they would probably have to trade into the first round to get and one they could select with one of their second-rounders.
Let’s start with the #10 pick, as this guy has long been linked to the Pelicans in this NBA Draft.
New Orleans Pelicans draft picks: NBA Draft prospect Davion Mitchell
If you look at various mock drafts, Davion Mitchell is the guy most often picked for the New Orleans Pelicans and it makes sense, as he checks a lot of boxes for them.
Although the Pelicans already have plenty of guards they don’t really have anyone like Mitchell, who many believe is the best one-on-one defender in the entire draft.
He can also shoot the 3-ball and run the floor, which has drawn some comparisons to Donovan Mitchell, though the two are not related.
Mitchell is an experienced winner and will be an impact defender right away. If he is there when the Pelicans choose 10th (and they don’t trade the pick) I expect Mitchell will get serious consideration.