Original Pick: Jaxson Hayes, Texas
The New Orleans Pelicans had three strong first-round picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, and while they got a generational superstar at No. 1 they did not do so well with the other two picks. Both would go much later in a redraft, and neither is a lock to remain in the first round.
This time around, they get to add a proven player at the league’s most valuable position. Keldon Johnson has become a solid two-way combo forward for the San Antonio Spurs, settling in as their best player at this point in their rebuild. He can score reasonably well, has developed as a passer and has shot decently well from outside.
Johnson doesn’t get higher on this list because his upside seems capped. He doesn’t have enough ball-handling juice or athleticism to gain true separation, and he isn’t an elite shooter. Defensively he can survive but isn’t making impact plays very often. He looks like a fourth or fifth starter on a good team, and as valuable as those players are, Johnson isn’t likely to make an All-Star Game in his career.
Even so, the Pelicans would have loved to come away with Johnson over Jaxson Hayes. In our newly-formed redraft roster he could start alongside Brandon Ingram at forward, settling into the perfect offensive role as Ingram and Darius Garland create offense.