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Complete 2017 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Draft
Jan 28, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Frank Jackson (15) goes up for a shot in the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Duke defeated Wake 85-83. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

New Orleans Pelicans

Frank Jackson (No. 31)

With all the maneuvering the New Orleans Pelicans did leading up to and on draft night, it’s kind of surprising to look back and realize they only added one player to the roster, but here we are.

The Pellies started things off by dealing backup point guard Tim Frazier to the Washington Wizards for the No. 52 pick — a risky move considering that pick was pretty late in the second round and New Orleans was looking at either Quinn Cook or Jordan Crawford as the team’s backup point guard — and that’s before even mentioning Jrue Holiday is set to test free agency as well.

NOLA also had its own pick at No. 40, but traded it along with cash to the Hornets to move up to No. 31, where they selected Duke’s Frank Mason — a bigger backup point guard with a higher ceiling than Frazier, though less NBA-ready overall. The Pelicans then allowed the Pacers to buy their newly acquired pick at No. 52.

Again, it was an odd draft, but even the team’s lack of a first round pick can be defended by A) The gangbusters DeMarcus Cousins trade that was WELL worth their top-10 selection and B) Being able to snag a potential first round prospect like Jackson at No. 31.

Grade: B+