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New Orleans Pelicans: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Eric Gordon (10) during the a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Eric Gordon (10) during the a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Orleans Pelicans
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) shows off the inside of his jacket after being selected as the number six overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Draft Pick No. 1

With Eric Gordon hitting free agency and the Pelicans not interested in paying to keep him, New Orleans quickly filled their need for perimeter shooting at No. 6 with Buddy Hield, arguably the best college player in the country last season.

A 6’5″ shooting guard from Oklahoma, Hield’s age (22) is the only thing that prevented him from being a top-three prospect. As a four-year player for the Sooners, Hield is coming off a monstrous senior season in which he averaged 25.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, shot 50.1 percent from the floor and 45.7 percent from three-point range, and led his team to the Final Four.

In NBA Summer League, Hield averaged an encouraging 16.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, but he only shot 32.7 percent from the floor and 22.9 percent from three-point range.

Though he definitely needs improvement on the defensive end and is a little undersized, Hield has the shooting ability to help the Pelicans on the perimeter. Though Jamal Murray was another popular selection among New Orleans mock drafts, Hield has very obvious potential given his elite three-point shooting.

Hield has all the qualities you want to see in a high draft pick: experience, shooting, leadership and work ethic. As long as his shooting translates to the next level, Hield is the first piece in New Orleans that will actually complement Anthony Davis for the long-term.

Grade: A-

Next: Draft Pick No. 2

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