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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
Jul 8, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Cheick Diallo (13) looks to pass during an NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Draft Pick No. 2

With the No. 33 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Pelicans got their hands on a player who was projected to be a lottery pick earlier in the season. Though he didn’t quite live up to those lofty projections, this is still very good value for New Orleans in the second round.

In his lone season at Kansas, Cheick Diallo barely cracked Bill Self’s rotation, averaging 3.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in only 7.5 minutes per game. As a 6’9″ power forward with a massive 7’5″ wingspan and 9’1″ standing reach, it’s clear this 19-year-old has the physical base to play at the NBA level.

In NBA Summer League, Diallo got his chance to show what he can do. In his five games in Las Vegas, he averaged 10.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, shooting 48.9 percent from the floor, knocking down one of his two three-pointers and shooting 70 percent from the foul line.

Diallo is a high-upside pick who earned a three-year deal (with the fourth year being a $1.3 million qualifying option) because of his potential as a rebounder and rim protector. He’s not much of an offensive weapon, but he has plenty of time to improve, and at the very least, is a more attractive long-term big to pair with Davis than either Omer Asik or Alexis Ajinca.

Grade: A-

Next: Signing Solomon

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