Oklahoma City took the dropper kid who looked stoned in P.J. Hall. Then the Miami Heat took someone who wasn't even on the Pelicans' radar. All three of the targets, all of whom they'd done extensive, double-digit scouting on, were there, along with another one who looked intriguing whom they hadn't brought in for an interview.
The Big Easy poured most of their scouting resources into big men, with an eye to finding the JJJ heir apparent. One guy consistently rose higher and higher throughout the scouting process the more they looked at him. And while yes, he had his flaws, so did everyone else in the draft class.
So there was a lot of discussion and debate as N'Awlins' front office looked at their Scoutwire reports. Finally, one scout said, "Let's not overthink this (expletive) and try to get cute. Take the guy we interviewed and fell in love with when he came and charmed the pants off all of us. Everyone else has serious intangible red flags, and this is a guy we can shift around different positions. We like versatile players, remember? And the safest pick from a traditional big man sense doesn't have height or weight to him, anyway. As for the other guy... he passes too much when he can't pass and coughs the ball up. Let's stay true to the Jestorball principles."
And so everyone was in agreement.
"With the 15th overall pick in the 2036 CSL Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select....
Oso Ighodaro, forward/center, Marquette
"7'0, 235 big man who has silky ball-handling and playmaking skills for a big man, and comes equipped Day 1 with solid defense - both on-ball and in turnover generation (shotblocking + steals). Strong discipline and basketball intelligence, hell amazing intangibles everywhere. Iron workhorse, consistent, he's everything you love in a player from the fundamentals standpoint of playing basketball. On offense, he'll be restricted to the post because he has no range outside of that, and he won't draw contact, but that's just fine for the Pelicans. Not a natural scorer by any stretch of the imagination, but what he puts up inside, he's likely to throw down with thunderous dunks that will serve as a highlight reel.
Biggest question - is he a center? is he a PF? is he a SF? Can he play all three? Definitely an imprint of Midwestern DNA happening here, and after Olivier-Maxence Prosper broke out this year for New Orleans, the Pelicans are really liking that Golden Eagles bloodline as a program that produces quality CSL players.
Day 1 Projection
Backup C, getting 16 MPG and possibly getting spot starts in case of injury. Will also battle Poku and the surprising Savion Flagg for playing time at the 4, and could possibly see time at backup SF to allow Whitmore to shift to Tatum's backup at SG.
Long-Term Projection
As currently structured, possibly a starting PF or CE, or a 6th man 32 MPG splitting between two positions player. One intriguing possibility sees him as the starting PF sandwiched in between the much-better rebounding OMP and Poku, the latter of whom might actually work in lineups as a center with incredible passing and ballhandling out of the post in both big spots.
Team Fit Thoughts
You see a trendline developing whereby JJJ, Poku, and Ighodaro are all two-level stocks players, and OMP and Flagg are steals merchants. Could we be witnessing the birth of a full-court press system as the Pelicans attack on defense? Their curious inability to generate turnovers despite their talent is what led to Doc Rivers not getting his contract renewed, despite two straight trips to the play-ins.
Not to be slept on - Ighodaro's ability to finish inside and high discipline gives the Pelicans security during the games when JJJ is limited by foul trouble.
Strengths
+Excellent intangibles on and off the court
+Ready-now contributor defensively in all facets and in passing and handling
+Dunk-minded with high percentages
+Prototypical big man size
+Potential 3-position versatility
Weaknesses
-Won't score much
-Has no range to speak of
-Will never be more than a mediocre at best rebounder
2020, 2023, 2027, 2035
