Pelicans Interviewed Prospects

Benedict Mathurin Interviewed with us.


LINK

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-draft-workout-tracker-where-are-prospects-going/

This is a cool list to follow. So far, the only player we have worked out is Izaiah Brockington (SG -Iowa State-Sr)

Definitely a trade back candidate.

Bottom line, the Pels do NOT need more 3-pt shooting next year. We will have plenty with CJ, Trey, BI (once he returns to his normal 3-pt game he had the first 2 years he was in NO)...and even Herb, who is gonna shoot 36% or so next year.

What we DO need, is a MAJOR improvement at the "5" defensively. And I'm not talking about a "5" that has to be effective against a big like Jokic or an Embiid. We are never gonna have that guy...I'm not even sure he exists. We, like all other serious contenders are in the process of doing...need a smaller "5" that can actually defend all over the court AND step outside & shoot the 3. I am NOT saying our new "5" needs to shoot 15 3s per game. Just shoot when left open, and set outside picks well enough to draw that opposing "5" outside. Zion will be very appreciative.

So...IF... we think Sochan can play the "5" & learn to shoot the 3 (even if only the corner 3)...I say we take him. The ONLY thing that could give me pause, is if Daniels is available & we have him rated as highly as many apparently do. At that point...I would flip a coin, BUT I would still hope it comes up "Sochan" because SOMETHING MUST BE DONE AT THE 5, if we are to take the next step.

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We will have plenty with CJ, Trey, BI (once he returns to his normal 3-pt game he had the first 2 years he was in NO)...and even Herb, who is gonna shoot 36% or so next year.

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You've said this a million times. It's impossible to say how many 3's B.I. will take next year, especially since he was top 3 in mid range, they might not want him to take more 3's. And it's impossible to say what Herb will shoot.

Even if B.I. takes more, if he keeps it at the same percentage it hurts us, and Herb shoots %36, that's not enough. Trey is who we need to hope increases in volume.

I don't see how people already have forgotten that we were the 4th worst 3 point shooting team in the NBA. %1 away from being the worst. We need shooting, there is no way around it. If we draft a 5, like it or not, he's not getting much playing time and isn't an immediate impact player or difference maker. We could draft a shooter than has an immediate impact. I personally don't want to draft someone and have to park them on the bench. Also, like his style or not, Val is a top 7 center in the NBA. He's not getting replaced, or Nance for that matter, by the 8th overall pick right away.

If you do want to make a "we need a MAJOR improvement at the 5" argument", say that you draft a guy that can eventually be that improvement 2-3 years from now. Because no matter who you draft at 8, he's not going to be that guy next year.

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I expect, at crunch time, our lineup would be CJ, BI, Herb, Zion and hopefully Sochan by playoff time

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Man you got it figured out. Not only are we drafting him, but the 19 year old that shot %59 percent from the free throw line is going to be a closer

I'm saying all this and I like Sochan. But you have a seriously inflated view of what he is going to bring year one.

It’s a bit of an aggressive projection lol, but he was right about Herb, so while I don’t agree, I won’t rule it out as impossible lol.

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It’s a bit of an aggressive projection lol, but he was right about Herb, so while I don’t agree, I won’t rule it out as impossible lol.

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On the 3-pt shooting, EVEN IF WE DRAFTED NOBODY, our 3-pt shooting should vastly improve on both % made & % taken.

Devonta will not take 563 3s next yr & make 34.1%
CJ will be taking many more 3s with career 39.6%
Trey shot 38.2% on 3s & will shoot many more next year

Why would anybody NOT think BI, with the return of Zion, will revert to shooting 38.5% on 3s next year AND at a 35% usage rate like he did the first 2 yrs he was in NO as opposed to his 3-pt % of 32.7 & nasty 23% usage rate of 3s.

JMO...we will move up to at least being an average 3-pt shooting team next year, probably above average...WITHOUT adding a single "shooter" to what we already have. We'll have a problem area next year...but it will NOT be on 3-pt shooting.

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I'd be curious to see how many sub-60% ft shooters improve to become decent.

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I don’t know the answer to that question, but Herb was a horrendous free throw shooter his first 2 college seasons and is one of our best free throw shooters now.

If you watch Sochan’s shot mechanics, he has decent form. He doesn’t have a broken or even funky shot, he’s going to be a decent shooter in the league.

ETA: check out his form in this highlight from his pro-day a couple days ago:

LINK