NBA Draft Preview | What Position Does New Orleans Need To Fill? | Brandon Ingram’s Future?
NBA draft cranks up tonight Pelicans in the mix in the first round and we’ll talk a little bit about that but I also want to hear about kind of where the organization stands and what they’re looking to do in this off season it could be transformative if what the rumors are actually come to fruition Christian Clark covers the PS for Nola news and the advate you can follow him on Twitter at C clark3 joins us now on the Tims firearm hotline Christian thanks for the time how are you hey man I’m doing great how about yourself doing quite well I’m curious to see what New Orleans does over the next 24 48 Hours um I want to start big picture before we nail down the next 24 48 Hours like um what did you make of this past season for the Pelicans they were healthy for so long until they weren’t and then they really weren’t and the postseason exit was really really quick what did you think of it in its entirety yeah I mean the the the main two finally played I mean I think the story of the two seasons before this past one was just the availability issues that that they dealt with with Brandon Dinger and Zion Williamson I mean I think you know 49 wins was largely a product of health and availability but at the same time you know those minutes when CJ MCC Brandon Ingram Z Winston were all on the floor together Pelicans three $30 million players Pelicans were just okay they actually lost those minutes I think the Pelicans you know won a lot of games because they had a a really good bench and they had good depth but you know this this is five years of Brandon angram and Zan waron together guys have not played in a playoff game yet uh you know bad luck has a lot to do with that but I think when you just look at that in it’s totality I think that’s why a lot of people around the NBA think hey look the Pelicans are are right for a shakeup what do you think the Pelicans organization thinks of Zion Williamson at this point I think they have a much higher of them than they did like a year or two ago I mean last summer I think they really looked at trading Zion ones and I think there was just extreme frustration with some of the stuff that had gone on um you know in terms of him just not being buil in about rehab the off the court stuff I think they they like him a lot more it’s it’s like a a partner than they did this time last year and you know everything I’ve heard this summer is hey look we’re going to make a go of this and we know this roster right now it’s not like optimized to fit around Zion Williams and take advantage of his strength so I think they’re going to try to get the pieces around Zion a little bit better going into next season did those pieces include Brandon Ingram yeah that’s that’s the big one right that’s the big question and I think probably I mean I’m not ruling out the possibility that that Brandon is back next season you know on on an extension but I’ve reported early in this offseason that I don’t think the Pelicans are willing to offer him his full Max extent that’s $28 million over four years $52 million in average annual value I don’t see the Pelicans going there I mean maybe there’s a middle ground where it’s like okay 160 million over four years but I think the most likely scenario is Brandon Ingram is is on a different team next season the Pelicans have Trey Murphy to plug in at the starting three spot if Brandon Ingram is on a different team and I think when you look at the two areas of need for the Pelicans a center you know is unrestricted free agent and then I think playmaking I mean CJ M has been a good player for this team but he’s best in an off ball role I think you know this team needs a lead guard where do they find that are there any names you’ve got in mind yeah I mean um you know I I think the Pelicans had contact with the Cavaliers and the Hawks before the trade deadline in February I think Darius Garland is is an obvious name I think people are wondering are the cats actually going to move him they’re acting like they’re not right now and then Atlanta is definitely a team I look at they’ve got two lead guards it seems like they’re they’re going to trade one of them this Summer Trey young is you know a really talented offensive player he makes pullup threes he’s a really good lob thrower you could put him in the pick and roll as Dion and then de jante Mur is the other guy jeant Mur is not as talented of an offensive player as Trey young the fit between him and Zan is not as clean but he’s bigger he’s better defensively and I think an underrated Factor here is jeante Murray has a really good contract the Pelicans they’re one of two teams in the NBA never paid the luxury tax they’re just not going to Shell out for a ton and pay roll and de JY Murray’s on a pretty good contract you know Trey young I think is making $43 million next year it’s a big number de Jony Murray’s at like 26 million something like that Christian Clarks Our Guest covers the Pelicans for Nola news and The Advocate draft coming up tonight you mentioned a big with Jonah sh cunis moving on as potentially as an unrestricted free agent what traits are they looking for in their Center if you’re trying to fit pieces around Zion Williamson yeah I mean they David Griffin has said on the record for more than a year we want more Rim protection there there’s been this idea coming from the Pelicans that if they if they plug in more of a defensively oriented Center someone who can be that backline Defender then that would make all the pieces around them look better so I think that’s that’s something they’re going to look at like you know could could they get in on Nick Clon who was Within like is there a route where they could get him with a signning trade Jared Allen is a guy the Pelicans have loved for a long time I mean if if he’s available I would expect the Pelicans to make a really hard push I also think there’s an alternate pathway where they could get creative like the Houston Rockets for example had the number three pick they could they could take Donovan cling in conceivably could the Pelicans go in a different direction get like make a push for like Alper and shenon guy who’s like a borderline All-Star Young Center kind of an offensive Hub so I I do think there’s that second door that’s like a possibility it might be remote but I think the most likely outcome is just someone in that rim protector mold obviously the Pelicans do have a a first round selection uh tonight in the draft at number 21 any idea what they’re uh looking for there yeah I mean you look at all the mock drafts um you know all the reputable people reputable people are connecting the Pelicans to e Macy uh one and done kid from Baylor um raised in Cameroon from a basketball family his brother played at Harvard his parents are on the Cameroon National te he’s a really athletic center you know the way he’s kind of been described to me I think the Pelican interest in him is real is he’s a little like Jackson Hayes in terms of he finishes the lives to get blocked shots but um I don’t know how to put this kindly but a little more serious about basketball right I think that was the main problem of the Jackson Hayes thing he’s just uh kind of unserious he’s 19 when the Pelicans drafted in so that’s that’s how the EC is interest has been described to me you know the idea of Jackson Hayes but somebody with his head screwed on straight basically I think that Isaiah klier is a potential option for the Pelicans in 21 he was top rated player in his high school class went the USC and had okay year he hurt his hand there’s a lot of stuff going on USC in terms of coaching um so I think that’s a guy that’ll give a look and then I got a sleeper name for you Baylor shyman uh five-year college player started at South Dakota State uh no started at yeah start Co State finish it at kraton just a wing who can really shoot the ball and is kind of crappy there’s questions about the athleticism but I can really shoot and is just a really smart player so those are my three guys I’m really keeping an eye on going into tonight well there’s one of those three guys or someone else what’s the um realistic chance that the 21st pick in this draft is a key piece to New Orleans next season yeah not not very high I mean I mean you look at like go go look at the first round of last year’s draft and this is just true year after year after year I mean it’s it’s very rare for anybody to to get a guy and he is contributing to winning like I I look at like Jordan Hawkins I love some of the flashes I saw from Jordan Hawkins I’m I’m still very high on Jordan Hawkins as a player and he’s some really nice moments like when you just look at all the advanced stuff for Jordan Hawkins like the onoff it wasn’t great I know fans like the Grumble of why is Willie Green playing Jose Alvarado over Jordan Hawkins It’s like well they they often win the minutes with Jose Alvarado on the floor and more often after losing the minutes with Jordan Hawkins and that’s no disrespect them it’s just it’s just really hard when you’re 19 or 20 years old to contribute to winning in the NBA sure is enjoy the draft tonight Christian we really appreciate the time all right man appreciate it Christian Clark Pelicans beat rider for nola.com and The Advocate Nola news pels picking 21st tonight we’ll see if they decide to make that pick move some things around with Brandon Ingram on the trading block block a lot of things that could happen over the next few days and we’ll we’ll certainly keep you breast of all of it here on the hunt Palmer show
On The Hunt Palmer Show, Christian Clark, Nola.com, joins Hunt to share expectations for the Pelicans moving forward and preview the NBA Draft. Will Brandon Ingram still be on the team next season? Who will the Pelicans draft in round 1 of the NBA Draft?
