While the general consensus for the New Orleans Pelicans is that they should target wing and outside shooting prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft. But as is often the case late in the lottery, the exact prospect they should target has varied widely.
HoopsHype’s Bryan Kalbrosky’s latest aggregate mock draft included the most common landing spots for prospects. For the Pelicans, the most common prospects to land at pick No. 13 were Precious Achiuwa of Memphis, Patrick Williams of Florida State and Tyrese Maxey of Kentucky.
Achiuwa and Williams are more natural 3&D players that have been slated to the Pelicans in previous mock drafts. Maxey, though, is less of a 3&D option and another potential guard the team could add to their young core.
Maxey was not a great shooter last season, shooting just 29.2% from range on 3.6 attempts per game. He was, however, strong in transition opportunities at 1.235 points per possession. Transition was the second-most common action for the Pelicans this season, per Synergy. Maxey also was an 86th percentile pick-and-roll player for Kentucky as well.
While those three were the most common, a host of other names were close behind. Aaron Nesmith of Vanderbilt, Saddiq Bey of Villanova and Devin Vassell of Florida State all were mocked to the Pelicans as well. Each would represent a more common 3&D option for New Orleans next season.
As the Pelicans narrow in on prospect targets, it appears likely that 3&D players will be the focus with a host of options available.
