Re-draft 2003 NBA Draft
Turkey. Zaza Pachulia. 18. player. 69. . PF
In 2003, Zaza Pachulia was one of those European big men that was taken in the second round and stashed overseas until he was ready to come over to the league. While that happens with most second-round picks and it gives teams trade bait and a chance to give their guys more development, Pachulia only spent one more year overseas.
When he came over, he only spent one year with the Orlando Magic and then began some stints around the league. His most notable stint came with the Atlanta Hawks, where he really began to develop as a big man in the league.
Pachulia was a post player that could play either spot up front. While he wasn’t a scoring machine, he could grab a double-double every now and then while anchoring the post. In a re-draft of the 2003 NBA Draft, the Hornets, who are now the Pelicans, wouldn’t of had David West fall all the way to their pick again.
That means they would have to go with another big man option in a re-draft. At this point, Pachulia was probably the most intriguing big man left and he could have been a steady player for New Orleans for years.
It’s a downgrade from what West brought, but it wouldn’t have been a terrible pick in a re-draft.
Next: No. 19 Pick