When an NBA team holds a pre-draft workout for projected second-round picks, the invitees are often unfamiliar names, or small-school players far from the spotlight of national TV. That definitely wasn’t the case at Monday morning’s New Orleans Pelicans draft workout, however. A virtual who’s who of NCAA men’s basketball programs were represented, including two players from Kansas, two from Indiana, as well as one each from Syracuse and Arizona.
Part of the attraction of visiting the Pelicans for possible second-rounders is somewhat obvious: New Orleans currently holds back-to-back picks in the early portion of Round 2, with selections at No. 39 and 40 overall.
“Absolutely,” said Syracuse combo guard Michael Gbinije, when asked if that was part of his motivation to work out for the Pelicans. “Hopefully I play well enough for them to like what I did today.”
Few NBA draft analysts post mock drafts for the second round, but one of the prominent sites that does – NBADraft.net – projects Gbinije as the 38th pick. There were four other players in Monday’s workout currently tabbed by NBADraft.net to go in Round 2, including Oregon State’s Gary Payton II (No. 47 pick), Indiana’s Troy Williams (54), as well as the Kansas duo of Perry Ellis (49) and Wayne Selden (56).
Several workout attendees also noted that New Orleans is an intriguing potential destination due to the presence of three-time All-Star Anthony Davis, as well as Alvin Gentry’s up-tempo style of play. The Pelicans finished 11th in pace in 2015-16 despite an array of injuries to key players, at 98.91 possessions per 48 minutes, via NBA.com.
“They get up and down the floor and (play) fast-paced,” said Ellis, a 6-foot-8 forward. “That’s something I like doing. At Kansas, we got up the floor a lot. I’m just trying to make an impact in whatever way I can.”
“It’s a good team. They’ve got a superstar in Anthony Davis,” Selden said. “They’ve got great guard play. They’re good in transition. I think that’s where I can fit.”
Coming off a 30-52 season, New Orleans qualified for the draft lottery and will also be picking sixth in the first round. Some first-year pros may see the Pelicans’ current circumstances as a chance to be part of short- and long-term progress, particularly for a team that showed promise with a 45-37 record and playoff berth in 2014-15.
“They’ve been in the mix lately the last few years,” Payton said. “I see myself coming here helping, being a backup for whoever.”
“It’s a young team; I think they’re up-and-coming,” Gbinije said. “They had a couple rough stretches, but you like those type of situations going in where you can be a part of something (improving).”