NBA Draft 2019: 5 targets for the New Orleans Pelicans

By Ian Levy | May 21, 2019

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 28: Killian Tillie #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts during the game against the Florida State Seminoles in the third round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 13: Shamorie Ponds #2 of the St. John’s Red Storm takes a foul shot during the Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the DePaul Blue Demons at Madison Square Garden on March 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

1. Shamorie Ponds, Guard, St. John’s

Size and strength will always be the limiting factors for Ponds and likely the difference between his skill set translating to a ceiling as a top-level point guard and one as a useful change-of-pace off the bench. Charitably listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Ponds still demonstrated that he’s a capable catch-and-shoot threat, a potentially useful pull-up shooter and a capable decision-maker in the pick-and-roll.

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Ponds is probably not the Pelicans point guard of the future, someone who can solidify Jrue Holiday’s future as an off-guard, complementary threat. But in a bench role, his defensive limitations might be easier to hide and the value of his shooting and playmaking could be highlighted. The key will be figuring out the balance between creating for himself and creating for others but, offensively, Ponds’ ceiling may be as high as anyone New Orleans is likely to find in the second round and he could absolutely be a useful piece as they start building towards a Zion-focused future.

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