Complete grades for all 30 teams in the 2019 NBA Draft
New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson (No. 1), Jaxson Hayes (No. 8), Marcos Louzada Silva (No. 35)
No surprises here with the No. 1 overall pick. The New Orleans Pelicans completed a selection that’s been months in the making by selecting Duke freshman Zion Williamson to kick off the 2019 NBA Draft.
A unique blend of size, speed and unseen athleticism, Zion is expected to come in and make an impact right away as both an inside presence and possible point forward. After bringing back a seismic haul for Anthony Davis, the Pelicans have a young talented supporting cast to help foster this once in a generation talent.
With its newest pick slotted at eighth overall thanks to a deal with Atlanta, New Orleans opted for an ideal fit next to its new core with big man Jaxson Hayes. At 6’11” with arms that stretch to nearly 7’4”, the former Texas Longhorn averaged 2.2 blocks per game this past season, which ranked 22nd among D-I athletes.
The new face of a franchise? Not so fast. @espn story on the night that the Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson: https://t.co/lhzdmv0VOu
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) June 21, 2019
He’s got great hands and an athletic frame that is sure to translate nicely on pick-and-rolls. He’s got room to grow at just 219 pounds, but the potential fit next to Zion is ideal as a rim-running shot-blocker.
In what is likely a draft-and-stash move, the Pelicans selected Marcos Louzada Silva, a 6’5” Brazilian wing who shot over 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
It would be pretty difficult for New Orleans to screw up a draft with as sure of a top pick as there’s been in recent memory. Aside from the obvious benefits of Zion, Hayes could very well become the center of the future for the Pelicans, rounding out a talented group of youngsters that is likely to grow into something special.
Grade: A+