At the start of the season, many saw the New Orleans Pelicans as a dark-horse threat in the Western Conference. They added Dejounte Murray to a core that included Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Brandon Ingram, and Herb Jones.
The Pelicans were deep, and Williamson was ready to prove his doubters wrong. They had guys like C.J. McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, and Jose Alvarado to round out their depth.
Unfortunately, this season could be dubbed “The Nightmare in New Orleans,” as the Pelicans had their wings clipped from the start. Murray, Williamson, Murphy, and Jones have all missed significant time due to injury.
Ingram also missed more than two months due to an ankle sprain before getting traded to the Raptors. In all, New Orleans has used 36 different starting lineups this season en route to an 18-50 record with 14 games left.
The Pelicans do have their draft pick this season, and that is the only silver lining in this lost season. A stacked class is on the horizon, and New Orleans is in a position to land a top prospect, but one name stands out as a great fit.
Dylan Harper should be the New Orleans Pelicans’ No. 1 target in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Harper reminds me a lot of Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham with his ability to get to his spots, control the pace, create, and score at a high level. He showcased all of that and more in his likely lone season with the Scarlet Knights.
Harper averaged 19 points per game, five rebounds, and four assists on 48 percent shooting from the field. He showed a great ability to get to his spots, using a tight handle, and his big frame at 6’6” and 215 pounds. Harper’s strong suit was in the pick and roll, as Rutgers’ offense heavily relied on that action to score, and Harper was at the forefront of that.
Additionally, Harper’s ability to control the pace of games was impressive to see from someone so young. He was never sped up or slowed down at any point during most games. His assist total likely would have been higher if Rutgers had a better supporting cast around him, but his self-creation and creation for others was a big plus.
The one negative in Harper’s game is his inconsistent three-point shot. His shot is fluid, which is a good sign, but sometimes he leaves it short, especially late in games. However, taking them is not an issue for the guard, as he put up five threes per game and made 33 percent of them. With a little fine-tuning, his shot will come along.
Harper fits what the Pelicans need because he is a floor general who can create for himself and others and is only 19 years old with a ton of room to grow. He can learn from guys like McCollum and Murray early on in his career as well, but he is likely a better long-term fit at point guard than those two. If New Orleans can get its hands on the New Jersey product, they will be set up for a promising future.