Fansided

2014 NBA Draft: Grading each team’s draft

By Brad Rowland

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as basketball fans walk past a sculpture before the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as basketball fans walk past a sculpture before the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
19 of 30
Next
Mar 27, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith during practice for the midwest regional of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith during practice for the midwest regional of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /

New Orleans Pelicans

Heading into the night, things were awfully quiet in New Orleans with the real possibility that the Pelicans would not be participating in this year’s draft process. However, they paid a significant cost to move into the second round, and as a result, they emerged with former Louisville guard Russ Smith.

Smith is a small-ish combo guard with lightning quick foot speed and athleticism, but I’m not sure he is ever going to be an NBA point guard, and that is why he fell this far. The biggest issue here, though, is that New Orleans was forced to give up D-League sweetheart Pierre Jackson in the deal, and frankly, there is little possibility that Smith will outperform Jackson in their respective careers.

Grade: D-

Home/Atlanta Hawks