The New Orleans Pelicans have added two projected lottery picks to their list of pre-draft workout invitees: Duke guard Kon Knueppel and Washington State forward Cedric Coward. Of the two, Coward is the more intriguing prospect, as prior to the NBA combine, he wasn't really on a ton of teams' radars.
Coward appeared in six games last season for Washington State due to a shoulder injury. But in those six games, he was phenomenal, posting averages of 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game and shooting an impressive 40% from three on five attempts per game.
These stats, along with his stats the two seasons prior at Eastern Washington, show that his elite three-point shooting isn't anything new. Coward shot 38.6% from three on an average of 2.5 attempts per game over his two years there.
One of the main reasons he is shooting up draft boards is how well he measured at the combine. Coward's wingspan measured a ridiculous 7'2.25". This shouldn't have been a major shock, though, as he has always used his length to be a great shot blocker. In his six games for Washington State last season, he averaged 1.7 blocks per game.
Coward's unreal length and incredible three-point shooting ability make him the type of player any team could use, especially playoff teams. Unless you are a superstar in today's NBA, you have to be able to shoot or defend to stay on the court, while he can do both, making him a weapon any team would love to draft.
Drafting Cedric Coward is a much better move than trading up for Ace Bailey
After adding a second first-round pick at No. 23 from the Indiana Pacers, many feel the Pelicans are trading up for Ace Bailey. The Rutgers wing is a prospect that's been heavily connected to this team since the hiring of Joe Dumars. But when comparing Bailey to Coward there's not a huge difference.
Both men compare pretty well in terms of size. Bailey is over an inch taller, while Coward's wingspan is about an inch longer. They both have similar playstyles as guys who can shoot the lights out from three and are looked at as secondary ball handlers. However, where Coward separates himself is his basketball IQ and defensive ability.
Bailey’s biggest knocks are that he forces bad shots, often misses the open man and he is a poor defender. These are all things Coward thrives in and are skills that every NBA team should be looking for in a prospect. He rarely makes the wrong read offensively, and defensively, he always seems to be a step ahead.
While Bailey may have a higher ceiling, the Pelicans don't need a boom-or-bust guy; they need someone who can flat-out play, someone with a certain level of maturity like Coward. The 21-year-old would be able to come in, defend multiple positions, shoot the three, and make the right plays.
Drafting Coward at No. 7 would be far more sensible than trading away a pile of assets for Bailey, especially considering how many more question marks his game still carries. Even if Joe Dumars has his heart set on Bailey, staying at seven and selecting Coward would be a much better move.