Which player will New Orleans select with the No. 21 overall pick in Wednesday’s first round of the 2024 NBA Draft? An obvious initial step to trying to answer that is figuring out which prospects will already be taken in the top 20, thereby off the board when it’s the Pelicans’ turn to pick. With that in mind, Pelicans.com’s final glimpse at mock drafts around the Internet focuses partly on which players are projected by analysts to be tabbed with picks No. 19 and 20, just before New Orleans is on the clock. Also listed below are the projected No. 22 and 23 selections by each respective website, providing a surface-level feel for the array of names who might be available during the latter stages of Round 1.
Wednesday’s draft will begin at 7 p.m. Central on ABC and ESPN. Round 2 is scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
The Athletic (June 20): Yves Missi, Baylor center
“Missi is a project, but with elite tools that project to a clear NBA role. As a 7-footer with a 7-5 wingspan, Missi might have the best frame of any low-usage center prospect in the class. He’s a terrific athlete who moves his feet fluidly in space given his size.”
No. 19-20 projections (immediately before New Orleans pick): Ja’Kobe Walter, Kyshawn George
No. 22-23 projections (immediately after New Orleans pick): Tyler Kolek, Kel’el Ware
Bleacher Report (June 19): Yves Missi, Baylor center
“The offense is a bonus, but Baylor ran plenty of actions for Missi around the top of the key, where he showed he can face up, put the ball down and attack opposing bigs.”
No. 19-20 projections: Kyshawn George, Carlton Carrington
No. 22-23 projections: Isaiah Collier, Jaylon Tyson
CBSSports.com/Colin Ward-Henninger (June 20): Carlton Carrington, Pittsburgh guard
“The Pelicans desperately need some scoring punch off the bench, and Carrington (better known as Bub) profiles as a heat-check bucket-getter with a deadly pull-up jumper who can also be a secondary playmaker – think Bones Hyland or Lou Williams, but bigger.”
No. 19-20 projections: Ja’Kobe Walter, Johnny Furphy
No. 22-23 projections: DaRon Holmes, Zach Edey
CBSSports.com/Adam Finkelstein (June 23): Kel’el Ware, Indiana center
“The Pelicans need help at the 5 and yet have to be conscious of spacing implications around Zion. Ware is a high-risk high-reward type prospect, but he checks both of those boxes and may be worth the risk here.”
No. 19-20 projections: Kyshawn George, Kyle Filipowski
No. 22-23 projections: Ja’Kobe Walter, Johnny Furphy
ESPN.com (June 24) Yves Missi, Baylor center
“Picking a big man such as Missi makes sense here, as he had no shortage of explosive moments as a freshman at Baylor, highlighting his elite physical tools as well as the potential he can grow into after having only started playing organized basketball at age 16.”
No. 19-20 projections: Kyshawn George, Carlton Carrington
No. 22-23 projections: Ryan Dunn, Kyle Filipowski
Hoops Hype (June 15): Kyle Filipowski, Duke center
“Filipowski can stretch the defense with his three-point shooting and put the ball on the floor to attack defenders on closeouts. He’s been compared numerous times to Kelly Olynyk by NBA executives.”
No. 19-20 projections: Kel’el Ware, Carlton Carrington
No. 22-23 projections: Tyler Kolek, Kyshawn George
NBADraft.net (June 24): Kyshawn George, Miami (Fla.) forward
“Oozes potential as a player with polished ball skills, forward size and an innate feel for the game. Swiss forward who came a long ways in a short time playing this season at Miami.”
No. 19-20 projections: Zach Edey, Nikola Topic
No. 22-23 projections: DaRon Holmes, Jaylon Tyson
NBA Draft Room (June 21): Kyshawn George, Miami (Fla.) forward
“A jumbo-sized guard/wing with big-time upside ability. He gets where he wants on the court despite not having a great first step or quickness and he has shown a nice 3-point shot, hitting over 40% from 3 this year. A standout and versatile defender.”
No. 19-20 projections: Yves Missi, Isaiah Collier
No. 22-23 projections: Tyler Kolek, Carlton Carrington
The Ringer (June 17): Yves Missi, Baylor center
“Missi could become everything the Pelicans hoped they were getting when they drafted Jaxson Hayes, as an active rim protector and vertical threat. And with Jonas Valanciunas unlikely to return, there’s a clear need for a center.”
No. 19-20 projections: Ja’Kobe Walter, Carlton Carrington
No. 22-23 projections: Isaiah Collier, Bobi Klintman
SB Nation (June 18): Jaylon Tyson, California guard
“At 6-5.5 barefoot with a 6-8 wingspan, Tyson offers advanced ballhandling and footwork, a solid shooting stroke, and some passing flashes. He can fit into almost any team context as a wing who can provide off-ball scoring and some secondary creation.”
No. 19-20 projections: Zach Edey, Kel’el Ware
No. 22-23 projections: Yves Missi, Kyshawn George
USA Today (June 20): Yves Missi, Baylor center
“Good athlete and is an effective rim protector and rebounder, but must work on offensive game, especially establishing post moves, to justify a possible lottery pick. Has trouble at free throw line and could add pounds to body to boost draft stock.”
No. 19-20 projections: Isaiah Collier, Kyshawn George
No. 22-23 projections: Kyle Filipowski, Carlton Carrington
Yahoo! Sports (June 17): Yves Missi, Baylor center
“Missi’s draft range is anywhere from 14-21 with his upside as a rim-running big who has a budding pick-and-pop game. He has great hands, catching tough passes through traffic, runs the floor well and has solid footwork in the paint.”
No. 19-20 projections: Tristan da Silva, Isaiah Collier
No. 22-23 projections: Tyler Kolek, DaRon Holmes