With the NBA Draft less than two weeks away, it's still unclear who the New Orleans Pelicans plan to select with the 7th overall pick. Prospects like Tre Johnson, Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach all offer intriguing fits and could still be on the board when it’s the Pelicans’ turn. But if they’re not, New Orleans must resist the temptation to reach for Collin Murray-Boyles.
Murray-Boyles is arguably the most polarizing prospect in this year’s class. While his raw stats and defensive tools catch the eye, there are real concerns about how smoothly his skillset will translate to the NBA, particularly for a team like the Pelicans.
A Nightmare Fit in New Orleans
To be clear, this isn’t a knock on Murray-Boyles as a player. He’s a deserving first-round talent and could carve out a solid NBA career. But he’s exactly the type of player the Pelicans should avoid.
In his sophomore year, Murray-Boyles averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks, impressive numbers on paper. At 6'7", he’s a switchable defender and has shown flashes as an offensive hub. But the upside ends quickly when you dig deeper.
Although Murray-Boyles was one of the best defenders in college basketball this past season, it’s very likely that won’t translate smoothly to the NBA level. He often relied on his 245-pound frame to overpower smaller, less physical offensive players.
In the NBA, that advantage disappears quickly. Most players he'll be tasked with guarding, especially centers, are just as strong, if not stronger, and possess significantly more skill than his opponents at the college level.
With his lack of explosive athleticism and tweener size, he’ll struggle to defend true fives and may get exposed trying to stay in front of quicker fours in pro-level pick-and-roll scenarios.
His offensive game is limited. He’s most effective scoring at the rim and shows little ability, or promise, as a shooter. He shot just 28.6% from three last season and struggles with touch outside the paint. That’s a glaring red flag in today’s NBA, especially when postseason success depends heavily on spacing.
Look no further than this season's NBA Finals, where floor-spacing has determined who stays on the court and who doesn’t. That’s the kind of liability New Orleans can’t afford to add, especially with their current personnel lacking in the 3-point shooting department.
Drafting Murray-Boyles would somehow make the Pelicans' floor spacing even worse, which is not saying much as they ranked in the bottom five in almost every three-point category in 2024-25.
With the 7th pick, the Pelicans should target extreme upside or elite-level shooting, two things Murray-Boyles doesn't have. When I watch Murray-Boyles offensively, I see a guy who will thrive as a post facilitator and needs to be surrounded by good three-point shooters. New Orleans lacks the offensive spacing and shooting he'd need to succeed.
If the Pelicans were to draft him, it would be a nightmare for both parties. He’d struggle to find meaningful minutes. New Orleans already has a packed front-court with Zion Williamson, Yves Missi, Trey Murphy and Kelly Olynyk, leaving no room for Murray-Boyles.
Murray-Boyles isn't a bad prospect. He's shown potential to be a solid connective piece at the NBA level. Murray-Boyles might thrive in the right situation. But for a Pelicans team desperate for shooting and star-level upside, he’s a square peg in a round hole.