NBA Mock Draft: Orlando Magic make two surprise selections
By Jason Hirsch
10. New Orleans Pelicans – Chris Duarte, G/F, University of Oregon
The state of the Pelicans roster is currently a mess.
Lonzo Ball is a restricted free agent, Eric Bledsoe’s contract is worth $37 million over the next two years and Steven Adams just got an extension worth $35 million last offseason.
They also have a generational athlete in Zion Williamson who is beginning to voice his concerns.
The Pelicans are pretty much in contention mode right now, so if they don’t trade their war chest of picks acquired in the Anthony Davis trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, they, like the Warriors, are better off taking a player who, while at his ceiling, can contribute right away to the team.
Duarte shot a blistering 65 percent true shooting percentage this year while hitting overall shooting splits of 63/41/81 from the floor on an impressive 17 points per game average.
Duarte is not much of a playmaker, and he is definitely limited as an on-ball defender who might have issues on switches, but his offensive ability is a premium.
Duarte’s an intelligent player who can generate offense for himself and is active as an off-ball defender disrupting the passing lanes.
Underrated finisher around the basket. Active cutter. Good athlete. Sneaky quick first step. He seriously does not have a single weakness offensively pic.twitter.com/PhfFJMnMbw
— Zack Padmore (@ZP12Hoops) June 26, 2021