Ranking the top 5 second-round picks from the 2022 NBA Draft

NEW YORK, NY, USA - JUNE 23: (L-R) Blake Wesley, Walker Kessler, Jaden Hardy, Tari Eason, Jalen Williams, Jalen Duren, AJ Griffen, Dyson Daniels, Johnny Davis, Jabari Smith, Bennedict Mathurin, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivy, Paulo Banchero, Shaedon Sharpe, Jeremy Sochan, TyTy Washington, Keegan Murray, Ochai Agbaji, Ousmane Dieng, Malaki Branham, Mark Williams, Marjon Beauchamp, Nikola Jovic pose for a group onstage during the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

3 of 6

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 20: E.J. Liddell #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes dribbles the ball as Justin Moore #5 of the Villanova Wildcats defends in the second half of the game during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 20, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Ranking the top 5 second-round picks from the 2022 NBA Draft: EJ Liddell, New Orleans Pelicans

There was an outside chance EJ Liddell would be taken in the lottery and virtually no chance he was going to fall out of the first round. But the NBA’s trash is the New Orleans Pelicans’ treasure, though, as they picked up the Ohio State Buckeye at No. 41.

Liddell likely slid because of his age. The NBA is always looking for young players who can be developed for a longer period of time, but this sometimes leads to the best prospects being missed.

The 6’7, 243 lb forward was a monster at Ohio State. Last year, he averaged more than 19 points per game, plus 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.6 blocks per contest.

Liddell has no issue battling on the inside, banging around with players bigger than him, and using his physicality to his advantage. He can also pop on the outside and knock down shots, having hit 38 percent of his three-point attempts last year.

The forward is not the most athletic player and again, his age is a concern. But his winning pedigree could go a long way for a Pelicans team looking for an infusion of optimism after Zion Williamson’s lost season.

New Orleans is no stranger to a second-round steal – just ask Herb Jones. For the second straight year, the Pelicans might be celebrating someone captured later in the draft.