The New Orleans Pelicans are searching for shooting after a season in which they finished 23rd in 3-point makes.
CJ McCollum (211) and Trey Murphy (202) led the Pelicans in made 3s. After that, there was a significant drop-off. Backup point guard Jose Alvarado was third on the team in that category. He hit 83.
Pelicans finished the season 23rd in 3s made. Two players — CJ and Trey — combined to make 46% of their 3s. pic.twitter.com/Anurv2toGL
— Christian Clark (@cclark_13) May 5, 2023
The Pelicans front office knows it needs to add floor-spacers around their two core pieces, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, next season. One of the ways the Pelicans could address their lack of outside shooting is through the draft. Next week, there is a chance that two of the best shooters are available at No. 14, where New Orleans is picking.
Gradey Dick of Kansas had an impressive one-and-done season in Lawrence, so much so that the 19-year-old wing is ESPN’s 10th-best prospect. Meanwhile, Jordan Hawkins — a two-year player at Connecticut — led the Huskies to a national championship, a run that helped catapult him to 16th on ESPN’s big board.
Dick and Hawkins are two of the premier shooting prospects in this year’s class. Both are potential options for the Pelicans in the first round.
Dick could be a dangerous weapon at NBA level
The Pelicans struck gold when they selected a shooter with size in the middle of the first round two years ago. The 6-foot-10 Murphy had a breakout second season in New Orleans. He made the 19th-most 3s of anyone in the NBA.
This year, the Pelicans could add another elite shooter with size if Dick falls far enough in the first round.
The 6-7 Dick connected on 40.3% of his 3s on nearly six attempts per game in his one and only college season. There is little wasted motion in his shot. He is a righty who releases the ball well above his head.
Dick is a knock-down, spot-up shooter. It’s easy to envision him raining 3s off of set-ups from Williamson.
He is a weapon in transition as well. Dick converted 25 of 44 transition 3s at Kansas. He proved he could run down the floor, catch the ball and fire.
When defenses crowd him, Dick can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim and make simple passes. He is not ready to be a primary creator, but he likely will do well if all he’s asked to do is attack closeouts.
Dick, who weighed 204 pounds at the NBA combine, will need to get stronger. He must also prove he can hold his own defensively, which Murphy struggled at in his first year. Dick’s size and shooting ability suggest he’ll have a long career in the NBA.
Hawkins is an elite movement shooter
In Connecticut’s win over San Diego State in the national championship game, Hawkins scored 16 points. The majority of his points came off of 3-pointers. Hawkins drilled three 3s in the title game — a fitting finale for a superb sophomore season.
Hawkins is an electric outside shooter. He can shoot standing still, on the move or off the dribble. He can make any type of 3. He was in constant motion in college, and he gets great lift on his shot. He is comfortable snaking off screens and letting shots go. It didn’t matter whether a defender was in his face, either. Hawkins looked unbothered.
Hawkins hit 3s at a 38.8% rate on a whopping 7.6 attempts per game as a sophomore. He was a career 87.2% free-throw shooter at Connecticut.
There are few questions about him as a shooter. It’s unclear what else he will be able to do well at the NBA level, however.
Hawkins isn’t a primary guard. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 186 pounds, he is undersized for a wing. He sometimes struggled to finish at the rim in college. Hawkins will need counters once defenses run him off the 3-point line.
On defense, Hawkins competed hard. He does not have elite lateral quickness or strength. He will have to continue to rely on his basketball IQ and effort to hold his own on defense at the next level.
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