The NBA’s 2023 offseason became much more tangible Tuesday, when the league held its annual draft lottery in Chicago, accelerating discussion about the short-term future of numerous franchises. To the chagrin of the rest of the Southwest Division, San Antonio rode 14.0 percent odds to prevail in the lottery, claiming the No. 1 pick. New Orleans remained at No. 14, meaning the Pelicans will be on the board behind a total of three Southwest teams (Houston will select fourth; Dallas owns the 10th pick), a rare development. As is always the case on the day after the lottery, various websites posted their instant-reaction mock drafts, now that the order of picks 1-14 has been determined. Here’s a look at what those sites are projecting for New Orleans to do at pick No. 14, along with the players in the same range on the board (Oklahoma City and Toronto have the 12th and 13th picks, respectively; Atlanta and Utah are 15th and 16th, respectively). All opinions and quoted comments below are via the media entities and do not reflect those of the Pelicans organization:
THE ATHLETIC
Kobe Bufkin, guard, Michigan
“The Pelicans could certainly use more young backcourt depth. They took Dyson Daniels last year. Bufkin profiles really well next to CJ McCollum and Daniels long term as a solid defender who mixes scoring and passing at a solid level.”
12-13: Leonard Miller, Cason Wallace
15-16: Nick Smith Jr., Kris Murray
BLEACHER REPORT
Jett Howard, guard/forward, Michigan
“Look for the Pelicans to explore trading out of No. 14, given their surplus of guards, wings and forwards and their win-now mentality. This is a best-player-available spot on the board, and Howard figures to be appealing for almost everyone with his coveted mix of 6'8" size and shooting versatility.”
12-13: Cason Wallace, Nick Smith Jr.
15-16: Kobe Bufkin, Dariq Whitehead
CBS SPORTS
Kris Murray, forward, Iowa
“Murray had a breakout season for Iowa averaging north of 20 points per game while showing off range as a 3-point shooter. He's a combo forward who brings versatility, polish and size, all assets for a team looking to surround Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram with weapons.”
12-13: Jordan Hawkins, Keyonte George
15-16: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Kobe Bufkin
ESPN.COM
Keyonte George, guard, Baylor
“The Pelicans’ offense looked pretty stagnant in the absence of Zion Williamson, and adding another creator to the backcourt could be attractive. George is one of the most prolific shooters in this class and also brings significant scoring power with his shot creation and passing ability.”
12-13: Cason Wallace, Nick Smith Jr.
15-16: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Noah Clowney
FOR THE WIN
Kobe Bufkin, guard, Michigan
“All-Big Ten guard was highly impactful for his team, averaging 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds with 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Michigan outscored opponents by 9.9 points per 100 possessions when Bufkin was on the floor, per Pivot Analysis.”
12-13: Brice Sensabaugh, Keyonte George
15-16: Leonard Miller, Jordan Hawkins
NBA.COM CONSENSUS
Nick Smith Jr., guard, Arkansas
“Smith is an undersized off guard, but has the ability to score in a variety of ways, whether knocking down 3s or hitting mid-range floaters or runners.”
12-13: Keyonte George, Jordan Hawkins
15-16: NA
NBA DRAFT ROOM
Keyonte George, guard, Baylor
“An explosive guard with broad shoulders, the ability to finish through contact and high-level three-point ability. Didn’t have the most efficient season and will need to shoot the ball better.”
12-13: Gregory Jackson, Cason Wallace
15-16: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Rayan Rupert
NBC SPORTS
Kobe Bufkin, guard, Michigan
“Finding natural point guards who possess first-round talent is becoming more rare as NBA drafts pass by. Bufkin, however, has the full package to run an offense and be a scoring threat in every corner of the court.”
12-13: Nick Smith Jr., Keyonte George
15-16: Dariq Whitehead, Jett Howard
NEW YORK POST
Jordan Hawkins, guard, Connecticut
“There are playmaking limitations here, and he doesn’t project as a plus defender, but Hawkins is one of the top shooters in this draft and has quality size for his position. Pressure won’t faze him. Just look at how well he performed under the microscope at UConn, where he went from a role player as a freshman to star as a sophomore.”
12-13: Dariq Whitehead, Brice Sensabaugh
15-16: NA
THE RINGER
Nick Smith Jr., guard, Arkansas
“Smith is streaky, but many scouts project that he’ll become a reliable shooter. At this stage, he’s more of a microwave scorer type. Either way, the Pelicans could use more of a spark in the half court, and Smith is worth a gamble.”
12-13: Leonard Miller, Kobe Bufkin
15-16: Bilal Coulibaly, Keyonte George
SB NATION
Brice Sensabaugh, guard, Ohio State
“A strong 6-6, 230-pound wing, the Ohio State freshman is the master of the midrange while also being an excellent three-point shooter. Sensabaugh has drawn comparisons to modern-day DeMar DeRozan for his ability to get to his spots and hit pull-up jumpers from the elbows.”
12-13: Keyonte George, Dariq Whitehead
15-16: Jett Howard, Nick Smith Jr.
SPORTING NEWS
Jordan Hawkins, guard, Connecticut
“When fully healthy, the Pelicans have a young roster that should contend for an NBA championship. One of their only needs would be more perimeter shooting around franchise cornerstone Zion Williamson — and Hawkins would be that guy. Simply put, Hawkins has a flamethrower."
12-13: Taylor Hendricks, Jordan Hood-Schifino
15-16: Jett Howard, GG Jackson
USA TODAY
Jordan Hawkins, guard, Connecticut
“Hawkins thrives behind the 3-point line: He can catch and shoot or pull up off the dribble. And he’s always moving off the ball to create a shot for himself.”
12-13: Nick Smith Jr., Keyonte George
15-16: Kobe Bufkin, Dereck Lively
YAHOO!
Jalen Hood-Schifino, guard, Indiana
“A strong guard with great feel who extended his game past the 3-point line and improved his read off the screen. He plays bigger than his size (6-6, 215) and has a quicker first step off the dribble than what meets the eye.”
12-13: Jordan Hawkins, Nick Smith Jr.
15-16: Cason Wallace, Kobe Bufkin