New Orleans Pelicans: Re-drafting the 2019 NBA Draft

New Orleans Pelicans: Re-drafting the 2019 NBA Draft #7-8

The Bulls originally took Coby White here but if they had to do it again, they’d opt for defense and size over offense.

Hunter scored 15 a game for Atlanta last season, and as his 3-point shot continues to develop, he could end up being one of the best two-way wings from this draft.

I think he fits onto just about any roster and would be great with what the Bulls currently have.

There are a lot of ways the New Orleans Pelicans could go with this pick. They originally took Jaxson Hayes here, but Hayes has been rather slow to develop and has had some off-the-court issues that might scare the Pelicans away.

You could certainly argue for Tyler Herro, Brandon Clarke, Came Reddish or Rui Hachimura here, but in the end, I think the Pelicans are happy with NAW, who has shown flashes that he’ll be better than all of these guys.

NAW has a chance to have a breakout season with the Pelicans in an expanded role. He has averaged 19 points per game as a starter and I think he’ll get close to that next season playing off the ball with Zion and Brandon Ingram.

This might be my Pels’ homerism talking, but I think NAW goes top-10 if this draft were done again and that Hayes slips out of the lottery altogether.

Now that we’ve seen plenty of both, NAW seems to have the higher ceiling and has the potential to evolve into a player like his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in OKC.

If the New Orleans Pelicans were to do this draft again, they might end up with the same guys, as the Hayes pick would look at lot better at 17th in the draft.