New Orleans Pelicans
Holy smokes did Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin web a lot of value for falling back to No. 8. In the majority of years, trading out of their top five of the draft would be a remarkably risky move because draft value tends to fall off a cliff at the No. 6 selection. However, this isn’t most years; we’ve been hearing for weeks that the 2019 draft projected to be remarkably shallow after Williamson, RJ Barrett and Ja Morant. Griffin obviously felt he could slide back four slots out of No. 4 and still get the player he desired, center Jaxson Hayes.
Utilizing ESPN’s Kevin Pelton nifty draft pick platform system to help put transactions like these in perspective, the Pelicans received 3,560 points in draft pick value (1,970 for No. 8; 1,220 for No. 17; 370 for No. 35) in comparison to 2,450 points going into Atlanta (2,440 to get No. 4; 10 to get No. 57). That is a humongous gap in value. On top of this, the Pelicans shed Solomon Hill’s $13 million contract. In addition to this, the Pelicans obtained Cleveland’s 2020 first-round choice, which will likely become a set of second-rounders.
This is a heist by Griffin, who continues to run a practice in his opening salvo. I am not in love with all the Hayes selection at No. 8. He is a large pick-and-roll dunker from the Tyson Chandler mold, which is a fantastic match on most rosters. But the Pelicans want shooters about Williamson to reevaluate his athleticism and Hayes has not shown any range outside the paint.
The fantastic thing is that Hayes has a excellent stroke in the free throw line (74 percent last season at Texas), therefore that he could maybe stretch out and produce a jumper. That said, Lonzo Ball could shatter the lob listing with Williamson and Hayes running in the rim. Sheesh.
By making the trade with Atlanta, the Pelicans have dug out roughly $30 million in cap space, which they may use to purchase more selections down online or bring in some shooting ability to free up more room for the children. Do not be surprised if Griffin brings in Jared Dudley, who spent four and a half seasons with Griffin in Phoenix, to help coach up the locker area and deliver in a 3-and-D existence around the wing.
Oh, and incidentally they drafted the very best potential because LeBron James.
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