National Basketball Association

New Orleans Pelicans: 5 options for pick No. 40 in 2017 NBA Draft

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:01 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Fansided, Frank Urbina/FanSided via Hoops Habit

Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) reacts after a dunk during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans made a splash at the trade deadline, but it came at a cost. One way to recoup part of the depth they lost is through the 2017 NBA Draft.

The 2017 All-Star Game was a drab affair, in all honesty.

While the guys participating played the opposite of defense for 48 minutes, and the final score read A lot to A bit less than that, most basketball fans were paying attention to something else.

As the contest was ongoing, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical began to leak news of a potential DeMarcus Cousins deal in the works.

After what felt like hours of speculation on which team the superstar big man would get traded to, we finally received word.

The New Orleans Pelicans pulled off one of the biggest trade stunners of all time by acquiring Cousins. To that point, the former Kentucky Wildcat had three All-Star appearances under his belt, as well as two Second Team All-NBA selections. Simply put, acquiring him to play next to Anthony Davis was a heist — even if it did come at a bit of a cost.

In the deal to land Boogie, New Orleans gave up its 2017 first round draft pick (top-three protected), Buddy Hield and Tyreke Evans, among other assets. Overall, a decent haul for the Sacramento Kings — and one that left the Pelicans sorely lacking on the wing.

Nevertheless, they will have multiple chances to address that need — the first coming on June 22.

Though the franchise from the Bayou only has one pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, No. 40 overall, this is considered one of the deeper classes ever. Even at that spot, they should be able to acquire depth on the wing to aid their two frontcourt behemoths.

Honorable mentions:  Sindarius Thornwell (great as an undrafted free agent type), Alec Peters (more pressing needs than power forward), Thomas Bryant (likely gone by the 40th pick)

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

5. Tyler Dorsey, SG, Oregon

College stats (So. year):  39 GP, 14.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.3 3s, 0.8 STL, 0.1 BLK, 1.5 TOs, 46.7 FG%, 42.3 3PT%, 75.5 FT%, 30.0 MPG

The 2016-17 Pelicans were one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, making just 35.0 percent of their attempts (good for 19th overall). As such, they need to reload on shooting this offseason.

One good option in the draft who would do just that is Oregon 2-guard, Tyler Dorsey.

The former Duck is one of the best shooters in his class; over his two years in college, Dorsey nailed 41.6 percent of his threes. Considering he attempted 373 heaves from beyond the arc during that time, we have a pretty good gauge of how translatable that skill will be.

Dorsey used a late-season run of breathtaking shot-making to shoot up draft boards. To that point, per Draft Express' mock history feature, he wasn't considered a potential early draft entrant. However, that changed over his final eight games — all of which were postseason action.

In that span, Dorsey averaged 23.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game on absurd shooting splits of .587/.558/.761. What's more, three of the defenses he lit up were top 30 in defensive efficiency, per the great KenPom, including Arizona's 29th-ranked unit.

For a New Orleans side lacking perimeter scorers, taking a flier on the 6'4″ shooting guard at pick No. 40 would make a lot of sense.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

4. Frank Jackson, PG/SG, Duke

College stats:  36 GP, 10.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.4 3s, 0.6 STL, 0.1 BLK, 1.4 TOs, 47.3 FG%, 39.2 3PT%, 75.5 FT%, 24.9 MPG

Like Dorsey, Frank Jackson used a late-season push to propel himself into draft consideration.

Over his last nine games, eight of which were starts, the former Blue Devil averaged 14.9 points, 3.6 boards, 1.4 helpers and 1.9 three-pointers a night. In that time frame, he converted 50.6 of his attempts overall, and 50.0 percent of his looks from deep.

If he's available at No. 40 — far from a certainty considering he declared for the draft instead of going back to school, meaning he may have received a first round promise from a team picking in the 20s — he'd be quite the steal.

Jackson just turned 19 years old, measured in at 6'4″ with a 6'7.5″ wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine and is far from a finished product. I mean that in a good way, for the record; whoever drafts him will have quite the canvas to paint on.

Another positive we should note regarding Jackson is his ability to play either guard spot. Considering New Orleans' current starter at point guard, Jrue Holiday, is an impending free agent, the Pellies may have a hole to fill at the 1-spot, in addition to on the wing.

Could Jackson fill Holiday's shoes right away next season? Probably not. But the fact that he could ably play either guard spot makes him even more enticing for a Pelicans team that could eventually use him in more ways than one.

Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

3. Dwayne Bacon, SG/SF, Florida State

College stats (So. year):  35 GP, 17.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.6 3s, 1.0 STL, 0.1 BLK, 2.0 TOs, 45.2 FG%, 33.3 3PT%, 75.4 FT%, 28.8 MPG

Our hunt for wing scoring now brings us to Tallahassee, FL — where Dwayne Bacon resides. Over his two years at Florida State, the 2/3 hybrid led the team in scoring, and his individual success became team success rather quickly.

With a sophomore-year Bacon taking a more vocal role as a leader, the Seminoles enjoyed one of their most successful campaigns in program history. They finished second place for the ACC regular season title (one of the country's toughest conferences), and went undefeated at home.

Bacon's most brilliant performance of the year came on Dec. 31, against Virginia's second-ranked defense. In that contest, Bacon scored 29 points on 11-for-18 shooting — hitting six three-pointers in the process, including the…actually, I'll let you see for yourself.

With the game on the line, on the road, down by one, Bacon brought the ball down. Head coach Leonard Hamilton opted against taking a timeout, which turned out to be right decision.

Buckets.

Bacon does have his flaws. He's almost 22, struggles from beyond the arc (31.2 percent from three in college), doesn't draw enough fouls to be an efficient scorer, and is a rather porous defender.

At the same time, he's athletic, strong for a wing, has a 6'10" wingspan and can do the one thing we frankly underrate these days: Get buckets. Plus, his defensive deficiencies could be masked playing alongside Davis and wing-stopper Solomon Hill.

In all, a guy with his scoring ability would make sense at No. 40 for a team that lacks shot-makers like the Pelicans.

Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

2. Josh Hart, SG, Villanova

College stats (Sr. year):  36 GP, 18.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 3s, 1.5 STL, 0.3 BLK, 2.0 TOs, 51.0 FG%, 40.4 3PT%, 74.7 FT%, 33.1 MPG

For a team that lacks shooting like the Pelicans, one of their best options may by Villanova grad Josh Hart. Over his four-year career with the program, Hart attempted an absurd 532 three-pointers and successfully converted on 38.9 percent of them — an overall healthy mark.

The explosive 2-guard is easily the most decorated athlete on our list, having won a national title as a junior, and Big East Player of the Year in 2016-17. He's a bit older (22) than some of the other potential draftees in his class, sure, but he also has experience in huge games that not many else can claim.

In that aforementioned championship run of 2015-16, Villanova faced a huge test against Hield's Oklahoma team in the Final Four. How did Hart respond? Merely by dropping 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting, to go with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.

And more recently (probably of greater importance, too), is the fact that he's been killing the pre-draft process.

If the Pelicans bring him in for a workout and come away thinking his shooting will translate, and that his limited athleticism won't be too burdensome to overcome, he could very well be the guy at No. 40.

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

1. Dillon Brooks, SF, Oregon

College stats (Jr. year):  35 GP, 16.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.6 3s, 1.1 STL, 0.5 BLK, 2.1 TOs, 48.8 FG%, 40.1 3PT%, 75.4 FT%, 25.3 MPG

New Orleans' best option at No. 40 may very well be another Oregon player — Dillon Brooks.

The 6'7″ wing has been described as a 2-guard with the brute strength of a 4, who possesses the competitiveness to match that power. The Ducks enjoyed one of their best seasons in program history — which culminated with a trip to the Elite Eight — at least partially thanks to their uber-talented small forward. Put (perhaps a little too) simply, he's a winner.

Brooks is far from a perfect prospect. He's not all that athletic, and his wingspan (6'6″) is actually shorter than his verified height. But what he lacks in tangible assets, he makes up for (and then some) with his intangibles.

His leadership and fiery attitude have even earned him one bold comparison: Draymond Green. The two share a similar style of play — both bruisers with surprising skill — but more so, what they bring to the table as competitors is why they are often linked.

You can even see Brooks' passion shine during pre-draft workouts…no, seriously.

In all, he'd be a wonderful fit slotting into the frontcourt next to Davis and Cousins. They would make life hell for their opponents, with their scoring, passing and defensive tenacity.

It's not common to land a player who could eventually become a starter with the 40th pick. Nonetheless, if his athleticism and lack of length aren't too much to overcome, that's exactly the type of talent the Pelicans would be acquiring in Brooks at No. 40.

More from Hoops Habit

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Basketball Association

New Orleans Pelicans