New Orleans Pelicans: Complete 2017 offseason grades

More draft maneuvers

This is a move that came in two parts, with one happening before the 2017 NBA Draft and the other being a head-scratching conclusion on draft night.

To get things started, the Pelicans dealt their backup point guard, Tim Frazier, to the Wizards for Washington’s No. 52 overall pick. Considering the Pellies’ lack of stability in the backcourt at the time, it was a bit of a puzzling move, even if this is the kind of team that needs to start putting young talent around its star core.

Though Frazier only averaged 7.1 points and 5.2 assists in 23.5 minutes per game last year, he was a competent floor general off the bench. Trading up to select Jackson helped mitigate the loss, but instead of using their No. 52 pick on another young player, the Pelicans quickly pivoted and gave it away to the Indiana Pacers for cash considerations.

So to recap, the Pelicans approached draft night with Frazier and the 40th overall pick and emerged with the 31st overall pick (Jackson) and cash (which could’ve been the 52nd overall pick). That’s not a terrible exchange by any means, but it’s a bit odd the Pelicans basically wound up trading a decent backup like Frazier for nothing more than cash.

Grade: C-