The New Orleans Pelicans are shaping up to be one of the more active teams in the 2020 NBA Draft, particularly amongst lottery teams. Multiple reports from The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor indicate that the Pelicans are interested in moving up in the draft. One of the questions that arose from that report was who exactly the team may be targeting if they do move up.
One potential answer came about on Thursday when Tyrese Maxey revealed during his pre-draft interview that the only team he had worked out for was the New Orleans Pelicans.
Tyrese Maxey said the #Pelicans were the only team he worked out for in the predraft process. He hasn’t had any Zoom contact with the #Sixers.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 12, 2020
Maxey is considered to be a mid-teens pick with DraftExpress slotting him No. 16 in their latest mock draft. With Kentucky last season, Maxey averaged 14.0 points, 3.2 assists and shot 42.7% from the field on over 11 attempts per game.
His fit with the Pelicans, though, would be interesting if the team really is interested in him. Maxey is a combo guard and the Pelicans already have the likes of Jrue Holiday, JJ Redick, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker on the roster next season with Frank Jackson as a restricted free agent.
Maxey would make more sense if a player like Holiday is dealt. Even then, he would find himself behind a host of other established guards barring more trades. It would be an interesting player for the Pelicans to move up for, but considering how well they drafted last season, they may have earned some benefit of the doubt.
In theory, it would make much more sense for the Pelicans to move up for a wing or even a center considering they have more immediate needs and holes in those two areas.
