The New Orleans Pelicans will enter the 2022 NBA Draft in a great position, as they get the chance to add a top-10 talent to a roster that already made the playoffs this season.
As the only playoff team in the lottery, the Pelicans have to be excited about the future, especially considering they will be getting Zion Williamson back as well.
The Pels have the 8th pick overall and also two picks in the second round, so they will have a chance to add an impact talent and then swing for the fences on upside with those second round picks or try to find an older player with an elite skill as they did last year with Herbert Jones.
There is a consensus top-3 in this draft (barely) but outside of that you’ll get a lot of argument about who the top guys are. This could be one of those drafts where the best player slips out of the top five, which is exactly what the New Orleans Pelicans hope will happen.
With a balanced roster already, the Pelicans don’t have to draft for need, but definitely have to consider how this player will fit into their culture and the roster they have now.
Here are the five prospects from the 2022 NBA Draft that fit the best with the New Orleans Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans draft: 5 best fits in the 2022 NBA Draft
Bennedict Mathurin
If you saw Mathurin’s recent workout video, you were probably left dreaming of what he might look like in the Pelicans’ rotation:
Footage from Ben Mathurin's Pro Day in Santa Barbara. The 6'6, 19-year old Canadian showed off his deep shooting range and explosive finishing ability in front of representatives from all 30 NBA teams. pic.twitter.com/YkvD0ZL2QT
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 26, 2022
Teams can never have too many two-way wings and Mathurin might be the best one in the draft. He’s a great fit with the Pelicans because he will buy into their defensive philosophy and knock down shots, two things they need.
He’d be able to back up a couple of spots and would be day one impact player on both ends. The Pelicans could use a scorer off the bench and the idea of Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado, Bennedict Mathurin and Trey Murphy IIII locking down opposing second units is pretty exciting.
If Mathurin is still there when the Pelicans choose with their 8th pick, I think he’ll be the guy. However, there is a good chance he won’t be there, so the Pelicans need a backup plan.