The NBA Draft is perhaps the largest and only sanctioned gambling event allowed by the league and federal law. There is no bigger risk in the NBA than a lottery pick, especially in what is considered to be one of the most uninspiring draft classes in recent history. Getting the selection right still requires years before an organization realizes a return on its investment.
The Pelicans are under enough stress as it is. Finding time for Willie Green to give a rookie room to make mistakes will be very difficult. Sending first-round picks to the G-League for months on end does not seem prudent either considering the team's postseason aspirations. If an incoming rookie cannot help shoulder the burden of regular season minutes, it's hard to see how they will be worth the salary cap hit. There is already one hidden gem the Pelicans must incorporate next season.
Calling on USC's Isaiah Collier
There is always at least one NBA Draft prospect who falls out of the lottery after years of first-round hype. Isaiah Collier was once in the first overall pick conversation before a lackluster spring. Sure, the 19-year-old averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 49.0 percent from the field. His 33.8% from three-point range and 67.3% success rate at the free throw line is more worrisome.
Collier was the nation's top-ranked recruit in the 2023 class. He’s known for his excellent playmaking abilities, court vision, speed, and toughness. The soon-to-be 20-year-old was usually one of the older players in his age-group games. Sure, even when playing up a division, he looked like an elite player on both ends of the court.
The problem is when everyone has those same athletic gifts. How will Collier respond when humbled by NBA veterans on and off the court? Lots of role players in the AAU ranks thrive in those same situations in the pros. Just look at the progression of Villanova alums now with the New York Knicks. Now let's look at Collier's CV.
- High School Achievements:
- Three-time Georgia (GHSA) state champion
- Named the 2023 Georgia Mr. Basketball
- co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American game
- Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year
- Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year
- MaxPreps Player of the Year
It's easy to feel like the most important player in the world when coming up the youth ranks with that resume. College was not so kind, what with the 3.3 turnovers and sub-35% three-point shooting and all. Collier will likely not even be the third most important player in his position group if drafted by the Pelicans. That could be a tough adjustment for the young man, who might be better off in a situation more designed to allow for learning on the job.
Pelicans can't mess with Yves Missi
Baylor's Yves Missi might be the mulligan the Pelicans need after passing on Jalen Duren for Dyson Daniels. New Orleans had to resort to sending Herb Jones down to the restricted area to protect the paint at times last season. Willie Green needs the NBA First-Team All-Defense dynamo roaming the perimeter. It would help a ton if ‘Not on Herb' actually ‘Had Some Help' on the low block.
Missi is a can't-miss defense-orientated prospect who can solve those issues. That is why the Pelicans had Missi in for a private workout after the NBA Draft Combine. What can be seen with a longer look a the tape is not that encouraging though. Not for New Orleans anyway.
Yeah, so he can catch lobs and swat shots the critics will say. The Pelicans had a non-shooting stretch four who could jump out of the Smoothie King Center before. Anyone looking for a downside just has to point to the offensive similarities between Missi and Jaxson Hayes to highlight the limitations that would be a problem as a rookie.
Hayes (74%) is a far better free throw shooter than Missi (61%), which is a good barometer for NBA shooting range. Hayes was also more than 10 percentage points better in effective field goal percentages. Just being a connective passer who is not asked to close games might be too much to ask of the 19-year-old Missi next season, and the year after, and the year after…the Pelicans have been down that road before.
Tyler Smith got a tryout
The G-League's Ignite program has been discontinued but Tyler Smith is still chasing the NBA Draft Lottery dream. was a consensus five-star prospect and ranked by ESPN as the No. 8 player in the 2023 high school class. After high school, he signed his first professional contract with Overtime Elite in August 2021, where he earned All-OTE Second Team honors during the 2022-23 season.
Smith might not see a minute of NBA action if drafted by the Pelicans. Kevin O'Connor's The Ringer NBA Draft Big Board has Smith labeled as a “non-factor on defense” who lacks strength, toughness, and awareness. He is an average floor spare at best, may hover around 33%-38% from three-point range as a pro, and cannot finish at the rim (sub-50%) unless it is a dunk. Willie Green would be better off giving those minutes to Jordan Hawkins to make up for lost time.
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