5 Intriguing 2nd Round Draft Options for the Pelicans
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Pelicans have the 39th and 40th picks in this summer’s draft. Which undervalued prospects should they be looking at if they want to make the most of their assets?
The 2nd round is a scrap heap of D-Leaguers, bench-warmers, and busts. The level of talent drops off significantly, but there’s always one or two players who blow away even the most generous expectations.
Manu Ginobli, Draymond Green, and Isaiah Thomas are just a few of the famous 2nd Round stars to emerge in recent history. Guys who have a certain level of drive and passion simply succeed no matter what, and it’s up to General Managers and Scouts to evaluate who those players are.
Luckily, Danny Ferry and Dell Demps have a great track record of finding diamonds in the rough. Ferry drafted both Danny Green and Mike Scott in the 2nd round, two solid role players who improved each year in the league.
Dell Demps tends to trade his picks away, but he has a history of finding solid undervalued role-players in the free agent pool.
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It’s possible they package the picks for a proven player or future asset, but odds are they’ll stick to the plan and bring in some young talent.
The Pelicans have been lacking depth for the better part of a decade. A stroke of luck in the 2nd round could solve or alleviate that issue for years to come. Cheap role players will be hard to find after the cap explodes, so the 2nd round is a rare opportunity to fill out their roster.
With the draft less than a week away, which prospects should they be targeting?
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