Hoops Habit
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

8. Cedric Simmons

  • Drafted 15th overall in 2006
  • Years spent in New Orleans: 1.

Another pick that was basically thrown away. Cedric Simmons spent time with four NBA teams before playing his basketball elsewhere. He went on to enjoy an efficient career in Europe. However, it never really clicked for him in the NBA.

He appeared in 43 games for New Orleans before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for David Wesley. He had played for the organization earlier in his career but now was on the tail end of it. He ended up being traded, effectively making their 2006 first-rounder another throw-away pick.

light. Related Story. 3 takeaways from Ep. 7 and 8 of The Last Dance

New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

7. Julian Wright

  • Drafted 13th overall in 2007
  • Years in New Orleans: 3.

This is the first pick on this list that wasn’t a complete waste. Although Julian Wright only played four seasons in the NBA, at least he did something in New Orleans. He was another product of Kansas University and came into the organization prior to a season which saw the team have a seventeen-game swing.

Wright was part of the 2007-08 squad which topped the Southwest Division and went on to win the franchise’s first playoff series in their short history, beating the Dallas Mavericks 4-1, before bowing out to the much stronger San Antonio Spurs. Wright had an efficient rookie year, as he shot 53.3 percent from the field. He was part of their play-off rotation as he was handed 11.9 minutes per game.

The following season was Wright’s best year in the league, as he averaged 4.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, respectively. His final year in New Orleans was more of the same, production-wise, before being traded for Marco Belinelli who, himself, is a solid NBA player. So, finally the first non-terrible pick on this list.

Home/New Orleans Pelicans