The New Orleans Pelicans, armed with three first round picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, had the chance to get their rebuild off on the right foot around Zion Williamson. How’d they fare?
The New Orleans Pelicans headed into Brooklyn Thursday night backed by a seemingly endless supply of serendipity. First, winning perhaps the most important draft lottery since 2003, and second, somehow prying a king’s ransom from the Los Angeles Lakers despite the fact that all the other major bidders had all but bowed out of the race to get Anthony Davis.
To maximize that Lakers package even more, New Orleans traded the rights to Los Angeles’s No. 4 overall pick to the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 8 and 17 picks. Even better? New Orleans dumped Solomon Hill‘s bloated contract in the deal.
At the end of the 2019 NBA Draft, the Pelicans walked away with power forward Zion Williamson, center Jaxson Hayes, combo guard Nickeil Walker-Alexander and Brazilian forward Marcos Louzada Silva. In addition to the pieces they got from the Lakers, the Pelicans now boast perhaps the most exciting young roster in the league.
Pelicans current roster:
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) June 21, 2019
Lonzo Ball | Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Jrue Holiday | E'Twaun Moore | Josh Hart
Brandon Ingram | Stanley Johnson (RFA)
Zion Williamson
Jaxson Hayes | Jahlil Okafor
Pels have roster decisions to make, and pursuing Brook Lopez should be one of them.
That roster is full of intrigue, but how will it mesh after adding 2019’s draftees? Here are the grades for each pick.