The New Orleans Pelicans selected Trey Murphy and Herb Jones with their 17th and 35th picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. These two are forwards who can guard multiple positions and have great potential in other departments.
With that said, let's grade both of these players and how did the Pelicans do in getting them.
New Orleans Pelicans 2021 NBA Draft Grades
1st Round
Trey Murphy: A
The 6-foot-9 Virginia standout may pop out as one of the steals of the 2021 NBA Draft. The man has his stroke locked down. Last season, he shot 50.3 percent from the field, 43.3 percent from downtown (on 4.8 attempts per game), and 92.7 percent from the free-throw line. This made him the only Virginia player in history to record a 50/40/90 shooting season.
Murphy possesses a fine, quick-release shooting stroke that makes him the perfect spot-up shooter for the Pelicans.
The 21-year-old is not just an assassin on offense. He can shut down the opposing team's best player as well, having shown the ability to defend all guard and forward positions. His lateral quickness as well as his size makes him a lockdown defender. What's interesting about Murphy is that he always has one hand up when guarding his man, as if he's ready to swat the shot. More than his athleticism, Murphy has shown the ability to read what the offense is about to do. From time to time, he uses his long arms to interrupt passing lanes en route to steals.
The only reason we cannot give this pick an A+ is due to the Pelicans' build right now. As noted, Murphy shot a stellar clip from the field last season and pretty much his entire college career. Broken down, Murphy shot 82.6 percent from the field as a cutter. The majority of his baskets from cuts were lay-ups, dunks and alley-oops. This says a lot about his finishing ability and his great off-ball movement. From time to time, he also knocks down mid-range jumpers off these cuts. Sadly, the Pelicans likely won't be able to maximize this ability of Murphy as they don't have a point guard (at least as of writing) who has next-level passing and playmaking traits.
2nd Round
Herb Jones: B+
From the looks of it, the Pelicans are about to move up a few notches up in the defensive rankings over the next few years. We praised Murphy's abilities on defense. Herb Jones, the 6-foot-8 standout from Alabama, was crowned SEC Defensive Player of the Year last season. This feat pretty much summarizes everything you need to know about this man.
Not only does he have the length and lateral quickness, but he already has developed elite-level strength. This allows him to guard multiple positions with ease. Looking at Jones' highlight reel, it was hilarious to see him block several jump shots. Moreover, he has shown signs of being a disciplined defender. Jones always exerts an effort to remain vertical when defending driving lay-ups.
Apart from his defense, Jones has shown much potential in the playmaking department. He averaged 3.3 assists in 2020-21, which is pretty good for a guy who plays the forward spot. He's very comfortable in running fastbreak set-ups and even half-court ones. It may sound blasphemous to some, but Jones can become like a Draymond Green-type of player.
Unfortunately, just like Green, Jones lacks a reliable shooting stroke in his toolbox. This may be one of the reasons why Pelicans fans won't see much of Jones in his rookie year. When you're in the NBA, it's expected you know how to shoot. Jones, at this point in his career, hasn't developed that yet.
Follow Us
Subscribe