The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

2019 NBA Draft: Winners and losers of the draft

By Kohl Rast

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images /

Winner: New Orleans Pelicans

The first and most obvious winner was chosen weeks ago at the NBA Draft Lottery. I am not generally one to give away the trophy to a guy that has never played a minute of professional basketball, but has there ever been a guy come into the league with more athleticism and NBA readiness than Zion Williamson?

The Pelicans never had to think twice when they heard their name coincide with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. It has been a foregone conclusion that it did not matter who got the top pick in the draft for awhile now, but the Pelicans took it a step further and really bought into the draft in a big way.

Aside from Zion, the Pelicans also traded Anthony Davis (an unhappy player who would not be with the team after this year no matter what happens) for the number four pick, two future first round picks, Lonzo Ball (former 2nd overall pick), Brandon Ingram (former 2nd overall pick) and Josh Hart.

If that were not enough, the Pels then traded the 4th pick to Atlanta for picks 8, 17 and 35. They were also able to get off Solomon Hill‘s terrible contract in the process.

With the other three picks the Pelicans acquired, they selected Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Marcos “Didi” Louzada Silva. Hayes is considered the best center in the draft class, Alexander-Walker is a talented guard with a lot of potential and Didi Silva could be a great international find. The big winners of the 2019 draft are definitely the Pelicans.