標籤: successors

The finally fully healthy New Orleans Pelicans are keeping things interesting to end an otherwise disappointing season. Stephen A. Aside from the scuffles with Smith and the officials, Zion Williamson’s diligent efforts have been worth defending recently. With Dejounte Murray back in the rotation, James Borrego’s last big push for a full-time job will keep Crescent City fans curious for a few more weeks. Reshaping the roster without moving on from Herb Jones could easily lead to trouble through the NBA Draft.

While the Pelicans have settled at point guard with Jeremiah Fears and Dejounte Murray, and hope to find experienced center depth to mentor Derrick Queen, Yves Messi and Carlo Matkovic, the wing remains a looming question mark. Trey Murphy III and Williamson remain franchise centerpieces, but the Alabama alumnus is no longer a young prospect, and the 27-year-old’s contract is also beginning to expire.

Having picks in the 30s, courtesy of the underperforming Milwaukee Bucks (26-35), is a ray of hope for a season that started with such promise. This is a very deep draft that will yield a gem or three. Finding another second-round wing to follow in Knott’s Herb’s footsteps should be a priority.

All-in on Amari Allen

Amari Allen might be the most obvious name to track for anyone familiar with Bay South hoops history. The Herb Jones similarities are almost too precise to ignore. Beyond the shared Alabama roots and jersey number #5, Allen’s game is built on the same foundation of toughness and defense. Nate Oakes continues to praise the rookie in a way that the Pelicans will definitely take notice.

“He’s playing really well, where people are recognizing he’s a 6-foot-7, 6-foot-8 guard who defends, rebounds, makes good decisions, doesn’t turn the ball over, plays on both sides of the ball,” Oats said. “There’s a lot to be said for that, and the NBA is looking for big guards who are multi-dimensional, who are tough.”

However, Allen’s developmental timeline is a little different. Jones entered the league as an older prospect with extensive college experience after four seasons at Alabama. Allen is a new player who is still learning the game but is making great progress. His length, athleticism and defensive instincts give him the type of switchable tool that NBA teams want on the wing.

Certainly still developing offensively, but the strong 20-year-old leads the Crimson Tide in rebounding (7.8 per game) and is third in scoring (11.7). The ability to guard multiple positions and impact the game in transition makes Allen an interesting long-term project if he ultimately declares.

Pelicans appreciate Neoklis Avdalas

Neoklis Avdalas is a rare 6-foot-9 ballhandler who offers unusual defensive versatility. The 20-year-old international can immediately initiate offense, help from the perimeter and defend in the frontcourt. Avdalas can hit open catch-and-shoot shots and is quick to run the floor in transition. His frame and instincts allow him to function as a weak-side small-ball center in some lineups. It doesn’t get more Herb Jones-esque than this.

That combination of length, defensive mobility and connective playmaking makes him one of the more interesting “toolbox” wings in the class. He may move more like Luka than Lowry, but has an All-Star ceiling enough for scouts to look hard. Think of a tall Tyler Herro type, but it’s hard to really score on him. For a Pelicans team that has relied heavily on Jones to erase matchups at various positions, Avadalas could translate well into a similar role.

juke harris listens to nba draft music

Harris has been one of the most surprising names in the 2026 class. Coming off a modest freshman season in which he averaged 6.1 points in 19 minutes per game, Harris has emerged as the true leader of Wake Forest’s offense, averaging 19.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the field. He scored a career-high 38 points against Boston College in late February.

The Pelicans have taken notice. Standing at 6 foot 7 inches tall with good length, Harris uses angles and body control to finish through contact, moves well off the ball, and has expanded his ball-handling to create separation and in transition. The high basketball IQ is reflected in his spacing and defensive anticipation, where he disrupts passing lanes and defends multiple positions. James Borrego could use a rotation of all of these over the last few months.