New Orleans Pelicans: 5 compelling first-round draft targets

New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

1. Vernon Carey Jr.

If Vernon Carey Jr. is still on the board by the time the Pelicans come up, it would be very interesting to see which route they take. Going with a big, strong, physical frontcourt guy out of Duke two years in a row would be wild, and Carey and Zion teaming up in that Pelican frontcourt would be something else.

Carey received All-ACC First-team honors in his freshman season, as he led the Blue Devils on both ends of the floor. On 17.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, Carey shot 57.8 percent from the field, dominating the paint and taking it to the rack. He also showed potential as a stretch big, going 8-21 from three-point range during the season.

The main concern about Carey lies with his defense. For such a big center, who is so dominant, Carey lacks plenty in terms of his defensive side of the game. The main aspects where the Pelicans should probably get better are defensively, but this pick would bring a different dynamic to New Orleans.

If they did choose Carey, their focus within the second round and during free agency would be more defensive-minded, as they’d get a monster 4-5 pairing of Williamson and Carey here. The Pelicans already have Jaxson Hayes at center, who they drafted last year, who has been very pleasing in his rookie year, but Carey brings a different size, skill set and range of abilities which would strengthen that position in a way that would bring the Pelicans up a gear.

It might not be the pick to solidify their needs, but it’s a case of taking the best talent that’s available here and at a position that isn’t locked down.