The Boston Celtics dominated the NBA Finals and are now planning for an 18th championship parade. The rest of the league is looking forward to the June 26-27 NBA Draft. The New Orleans Pelicans have invited or interviewed at least a dozen different prospects during the pre-draft workout process so far. That information will be added to the database following an intense NBA Draft Combine weekend.
The Pelicans are trade-back candidates according to multiple reports from the local media. New Orleans might have to stand pat with the 21st pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, however. Thankfully there are a handful of prospects who could prove useful.
Everyone has opinions on Zach Edey
Everyone in the hoops world has an opinion on Zach Edey. Boom or bust, there is very little middle ground with the big man out of Purdue. It took a while for some front offices to come around but someone is going to take a chance on a 7-foot-3 surefire interior scoring threat. Edey is ready to step into an NBA rotation immediately; the question is for how long and against which other lineups.
Edey has reportedly declined an NBA Draft Green Room invitation but he would sell tickets and attract broadcasters as a rookie sheerly on the curiosity factor. That's a factor the small-market Pelicans have to consider. Perhaps that decision to sit out the NBA Draft hoopla is a sign there is no lottery promise and the 22-year-old will be available late in the first round. Whether the Pelicans should pursue Edey if available is another question altogether.
There might not be a better rookie replacement for Jonas Valanciunas though. Edey missed only one career game with the Boilermakers. The double-double machine worked his way into the Player of the Year conversation over four years. Could Edey replicate those per 36 numbers for at least a quarter (12 minutes) per night in the NBA? The Pelicans drafting the big Boilermaker might be too good of an opportunity to pass up, if available.
Working with Kel'el Ware
The Pelicans have been linked to several big men since Zion Williamson was welcomed to New Orleans. Steven Adams, Jahlil Okafor, Jonas Valanciunas, Willy Hernangomez, Jaxson Hayes, and Derrick Favors next to Zion Williamson over the years. They have been linked to Myles Turner, Nic Claxton, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley over the past 12 months. Finding a way to work with Kel'el Ware over the next five seasons would shore up the front-court depth and maybe finally deliver a proper fitting big to the Big Easy.
Nabbing Kel'el Ware with the 21st pick would be the Myles Turner experiment of sorts, but the Pelicans would get to start from the ground floor. The 20-year-old is nearly 7-foot tall with respectable shot-altering abilities. The Indiana alum also hit over 42% from three-point range in college. The only question mark on Ware concerns work ethic, but that's something that can be worked on in a professional environment.
Pelicans saving room for Tristan da Silva
Tristan da Silva just fits. The Colorado big sports a 6-foot-10 wingspan, plays purposeful defense, and was seemingly born with an effortless near-40% three-point shooting range. During his time with the Colorado Buffaloes, da Silva made significant strides in his performance. He started as a freshman averaging 2.7 points and one rebound per game. The 23-year-old is not a jump-out-of-the-gym athlete but da Silva just knows how to hoop.
da Silva used guile and a few good years in a collegiate weight room to grow into a first-round prospect. He was a key player for the Buffalos by his senior year, averaging 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 steals plus blocks per game on impressive shooting splits of 49.3/39.5/83.5%.
An ability to score efficiently from all levels, including a 37.9% career three-point shooting percentage, earned da Silva the honor of being 10th all-time for the Buffaloes. That's the type of player and character the Pelicans should look to bring into the locker room with a late first-round flier.
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