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New Orleans Pelicans: Ranking the last ten first-round picks

By Rudi Richards

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the Miami Heat during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the Miami Heat during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

10. Darrell Arthur

  • Drafted 27th overall in 2008
  • Years in New Orleans: 0.

With any first-round selection, you should be expecting to get a decent player. So, why would you use that selection to draft a player and then trade him for cash? That’s exactly what New Orleans did here, as they selected a power forward coming off of an NCAA championship win with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Darrell Arthur was named to the All-Big 12 First-team in their championship season, which obviously boosted his draft stock and turned him into a first-round player. But as soon as he was taken by the, then, Hornets, he was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers, who dealt him to the Houston Rockets, who dealt him to the Memphis Grizzlies – a rather roundabout start for Arthur and his career in the league.

He went on to make 503 appearances in the NBA, scoring 6.5 points per game and developed into a nice role player during his time, but it was a rather questionable pick on New Orleans’ part as they never really planned on using him. It’s not really a reflection on the type of player Arthur was, but considering he never stepped foot on the court and was only traded for cash, I think this warrants the selection ranking last on this list and it’s completely on the organization.

Related Story. Re-drafting the 2008 NBA Draft's first round. light

New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

9. Cole Aldrich

  • Drafted 11th overall in 2010
  • Years in New Orleans: 0.

With a lottery pick, you certainly hope to get something that’ll turn out half-good. That wasn’t the case in 2010, as New Orleans selected Cole Aldrich and traded his draft rights to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Quincy Pondexter and Craig Brackins.

Brackins was traded a couple of months later to the Philadelphia 76ers for Willie Green and Jason Smith. Green played in New Orleans for a season and Smith played for four seasons, becoming a squad player, which wasn’t the worst outcome. Pondexter was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Greivis Vasquez, who turned out to be a nice player for a couple of seasons. But, yet again, with a first-rounder (especially a lottery pick) you expect to get a good asset.

Aldrich went on to have nine years in the league but wasn’t anything special, certainly didn’t warrant a late lottery selection. They certainly could’ve done something better with the 11th pick with Eric Bledsoe, Avery Bradley and Hassan Whiteside going later on.

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