2016 NBA Draft: Southwest Division Draft Grades

By Isaac Harris

Jun 26, 2016

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) gestures to the crowd while standing with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number six overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) shows off the inside of his jacket after being selected as the number six overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

New Orleans Pelicans: Buddy Hield (6th), Cheick Diallo (33rd)

New Orleans walked into the draft with the 6th overall pick as many draft experts projected them to be picking between the best wing prospects in the draft. With Jaylen Brown and Kris Dunn already off the board, Hield joined Jamal Murray as the best wing prospects still on the board.

With Eric Gordan departing in free agency and the Pelicans need for scoring on the wing, Hield could step in right away and provide exactly that for a young Pelicans team. With comparisons to the next “Steph Curry” in college basketball, Heild steps into a situation with a head coach who helped Curry get to his current level now.

Trading with the Los Angeles Clippers to move up in the second round to grab Cheick Diallo was a solid move for a building franchise. Diallo was projected to go in the 18-30 range on almost every draft board, but fell into the second round on Thursday night. Diallo will provide athleticism and length to a weak bench.

Draft Grade: A-

Next: Houston