via New Orleans Times-Picayune:
This year, there is more uncertainty about who will field the Pelicans in the first round. They have the 14th pick in Thursday’s draft. Earlier this week, the Pelicans came up with a list of players their front office and scouts loved. The names were two digits. In the past few days, the Pelicans have tried to narrow this list down. They are exploring different scenarios where they trade up or down as well.
If the Pelicans stay at 14, a shooter like Grady Dick of Kansas or Jordan Hawkins of Connecticut would make sense. Deck’s selection, a 6-7 winger who hit 40.3% from his three tries in nearly six attempts per game last season, is a no-brainer if he continues to the 14-year-old. He’s an electric shooter who can run around screens throughout a game, but he doesn’t have much size for a shooting guard and there are questions about how he’ll affect games outside of his ability to make 3s.
The Pelicans have identified shooting and outside edge protection as their two biggest needs for the season.