Pelicans: 5 players to target with the 17th pick in the NBA Draft

Pelicans draft picks: NBA Draft prospect, Usman Garuba

If the Pelicans are looking for a guy who could be an elite defender, then Usman Garuba has the chance to be one of the best in the NBA Draft.

Garuba is the kind of do-it-all defender who could bolster the Pelicans’ defense by defending multiple positions, protecting the rim and switching on the perimeter, as Bam Adebayo has done for Miami.

Garuba has been playing against good competition in Spain and on their Olympic team and has the kind of motor and hustle that will endear him to Pelicans’ fans. The Pels need a guy like this, as he can cover some of their stars’ defensive deficiencies and do all of the little things that help a team win.

His shot is evolving and he looks like he could have a jumper someday, but his offensive game is definitely raw.

But the Pelicans don’t need scoring, as they already have two guys who are going to get close to 60 a game combined, so if the Pels opt for defense, Garuba would be a good choice.