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.
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.
New Orleans Pelicans draft picks: NBA Draft prospect Usman Garuba
Usman Garuba is not a household name, as he plays professionally for Real Madrid, but he could end up being one of the most versatile and dynamic defenders in the NBA Draft.
Garuba might seem a bit undersized as a power forward/center who is only 6-foot-8 but he has a huge wingspan and is a very smart and dedicated defender, which makes up for his lack of size.
He has great footwork and a quick burst that allows him to switch on the perimeter, which is one of the most important defensive skills for a big man and will make him very disruptive in pick-and-roll situations.
Garuba should be able to defend all over the floor in the NBA, similar to a guy like Bam Adebayo, which would make him a great complement to Zion Williamson.
I think Garuba would be one of the best defenders to pair with Zion, as he can cover multiple spots and won’t need the ball to make an impact for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Garuba is projected to go anywhere from the middle to the end of the first round, so the Pels would likely have to trade up to get him.
New Orleans Pelicans draft picks: NBA Draft prospect Herbert Jones
Herbert Jones from Alabama ticks a lot of boxes for the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans have several glaring holes to fill this offseason, one of which is to find some size and defense on the wing.
The Pels never really had a backup for Brandon Ingram and it would be nice to get an athletic guy with size who can either defend or shoot from range, preferably both.
Jones is 6-foot-7 senior who is very athletic and proved himself to be an impact defender in college, swiping nearly two steals per game and adding another 1.1 blocks.
He has some flaws, namely that he turns the ball over too much and isn’t a great long-range shooter. He is also one of the older players in the draft, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Pelicans, as they have enough young project players and could use a pick who comes into the league ready to play.
Jones has the size and length to be a disruptive defender in the NBA and is a guy the Pelicans should target in the second round.