re: Some draft grades for the Pelicans

I can't see this guy filming himself telling the NBA to go frick itself for not putting him in the rising stars game..

or setting the world's worst screens trying to cut to the basket for a dunk

or being called out by his teammates for "being too worried about his fit on instagram than how he played in the game"

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And absolutely no pick we could have made last night would have been able to change that. We could have had the #5 pick last night and I legit would not have been excited about it. There's no reason to melt over this pick. The thing that will determine whether we get out of purgatory or not will be what happens with BI, not this pick

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think I’m more annoyed there was no trade with BI. That’s my biggest gripe. I liked collier more than missi but none of these guys do a lot for me. If we get Trae I’ll be a little more excited to at least want to watch this team.

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They'll play when there's injuries, foul trouble, and during blowouts, which is alway bound to happen and a perfect plan for development

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Earlier you said you were “salty because I feel Holmes is NBA rotation ready and can space the floor.” Now we’re talking “development”?

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You guys need to stop with the Hayes comps. Hayes is a spoiled dumbass who is wasting his talent.

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I said this last night. I could tell by his demeanor, he’s all business, similar to Herb. I bet he will be one of the hardest working guys on the team.

He definitely has potential, and it’s crapshoot this late in the draft. You just never know how guys will develop.

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I've looked at more film of the guy, and sure, we could hit on him and this guy is Time Lord 2.0.

I'm just salty because I feel Holmes is NBA rotation ready and can space the floor. This guy clogs the paint. It just feels like a backwards move and Griff still hasn't learned his lesson.

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Holmes may have the skillset, but most of the views for two years now is that this is a draft of role-players. And not of the variety that will be able to contribute right away.

It is safe to assume that whoever we drafted at #21 would be a project.


We all want a floor-spacing big that can defend the rim. There are like 3-5 true starter-level versions of those guys in the league. The likelihood of landing that level of a player is slim. We've had an offensively dominant Center for the past few seasons, and we haven't been able to overcome the defensive shortcomings of your starting frontcourt being defensive liabilities.

Many on this board tried to fool themselves this past season into thinking JV was actually a decent rim protector, and that just wasn't the case. If this team is ever going to take the next step, it has to start with having the ability to protect the rim.

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I could argue in terms of the recent big men we've had (aside from Jaxson) Missi may offer the most in terms of spacing in his prime. Nobody respected Jonas or Larry outside of the paint. And neither were a real lob threat. At least Missi offers you vertical spacing.

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Agreed. Now, can Griff find a way to flip B.I. for a point guard that can set the table offensively, be a lob passing threat to Zion and Missi, and make life easier for Zion by getting him off the ball and easier shot attempts in the flow of an offense.

There are 2-3 point guards that fit that bill in Garland, Trae, and Murray.

Assuming we can keep Herb, is a combination of Missi, Herb, and Trey's length and athleticism enough to cover defensively for Zion and Trae to the point where Griff is comfortable with unloading the war chest for Trae?

I wonder if Trae is good enough to be a floor raiser over keeping BI, or if he can raise our ceiling. Is the combination of Zion and Trae's defensive deficiencies too much to overcome?

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Is the combination of Zion and Trae's defensive deficiencies too much to overcome?

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Zion was low-key getting to above average on defense at the end of last season.

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Zion was low-key getting to above average on defense at the end of last season.

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Being above average is a stretch.

Overall defensive rating of 113.

Below average rebounder

4-5 moments per game where he took the lazy route and lost track of his guy (leading to a back door cut), or he didn't finish a closeout when the defense was scrambling.

Now, he did get a lot better and had noticeable moments where he hustled more or could protect the rim. But let us not conflate his willingness to show more drive with him being above-average defensively.

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Zion was low-key getting to above average on defense at the end of last season.

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With Zion it’s a mental thing on defense (at least it was after he got into better shape). He loses focus and gets lazy. When he’s engaged he’s not a liability on defense.

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Hayes didn't work because he has no work ethic or will to get better.

Does Missi have that same issue?

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Jaxson Hayes actually played harder last season for the Lakers than at anytime I saw him play for N.O. I don't know if it was because he was playing with Lebron and Davis, probably, but he actually looked better. Yes, Missi I'm excited to see because he is non-stop energy like someone described. You should see a lot of shot blocks and him getting out on the fast break and running is tail off, and a lot of lobs for dunks. Exactly what the Pels need.