New Orleans Pelicans: 2019 NBA Draft grades
By James Grieco
Overall
New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president and walking four-leaf clover David Griffin has long been hailed as one of the best front office guys in the league. Even with a bit of a reach for Jaxson Hayes, Thursday did nothing to change that perception.
The franchise’s goal was to shape a roster around Zion, and the team’s picks reflected that well. You have to give a guy credit for having a plan and sticking to it — that level of planning has worked out well in recent years, as the Atlanta Hawks can attest to.
.@KristenLedlow talked to David Griffin about the @PelicansNBA's #NBADraft night and his goals for his New Orleans squad as it enters a new era. pic.twitter.com/q0KhVxlrSA
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 21, 2019
A Ball-Jrue Holiday-Ingram-Zion-Hayes lineup is one of the most athletic in the NBA and will be a terror on defense. With Hart and Alexander-Walker providing plus shooting and instincts off the bench, the Pelicans project not just as a one-man band, but a deep and capable team that will be doing a lot of winning in the future.
Hayes, surrounded by so many talented pieces, will have time to develop, and Silva, even if he never steps foot on an NBA court, was a decent 3-and-D bet in the second round. Combining those with home run picks in Zion and Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes this a great night in the Big Easy. (The only reason they don’t get an A is because Zion was a no-brainer pick.)
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