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 most years, trading out of the top five of the draft would be an incredibly risky move since draft value will drop off a cliff in the No. 6 selection. However, this is not most years; we’ve been hearing for weeks that the 2019 draft projected to become remarkably shallow following Williamson, RJ Barrett and Ja Morant. Griffin obviously felt he could slide back four slots out of No. 4 and still receive the player he desired, center Jaxson Hayes.
Using ESPN’s Kevin Pelton nifty draft pick point system to help set transactions like these in view, the Pelicans obtained 3,560 points in draft select value (1,970 for No. 8; 1,220 for No. 17; 370 for No. 35) in comparison to 2,450 points heading to Atlanta (2,440 to get No. 4; 10 for No. 57). That is a humongous difference in value. In addition to that, the Pelicans shed Solomon Hill’s $13 million deal. On top of that, 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 conduct a clinic in his opening salvo. I’m not in love with the Hayes selection at No. 8. He is a large pick-and-roll dunker from the Tyson Chandler mold, which is a fantastic fit on many rosters. But the Pelicans want shooters about Williamson to amplify his athleticism and Hayes hasn’t shown any range outside the paint.
The fantastic news is that Hayes has a excellent stroke in the free throw line (74 percent last year at Texas), therefore that he could possibly stretch out and develop a jumper. That said, Lonzo Ball could shatter the lob listing with Williamson and Hayes running at the rim. Sheesh.
By making the trade with Atlanta, the Pelicans have dug out roughly $30 million in cap space, which they can use to purchase more picks down online or earn some shooting talent to free up more room for the kids. Don’t be surprised if Griffin earns Jared Dudley, who spent four and a half seasons with Griffin in Phoenix, to assist coach up the locker room and deliver in a 3-and-D existence around the wing.
Oh, and incidentally they drafted the very best prospect because LeBron James.
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