NBA Mock Draft 7.0: Is LaMelo Ball destined to join the New York Knicks?

The Pelicans have a lot of young pieces in place but will have to make free-agent decisions on several key contributors — including Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and Derrick Favors — over the next two years. The foundation of this team rests on Zion Williamson’s shoulders but a lot of parts could be moved in and out before things really take shape.

For that reason, it behooves the Pelicans to really be focused on versatility with this pick, finding the kind of player with upside to play a variety of different future roles.

Williams didn’t start for Florida State as a freshman but his per-36 minute stats were impressive — 16.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks — and hint at that versatile upside the Pelicans need. He has the size and quickness to defend 3s and 4s and enough rim-protection instincts to conceivably work as a small-ball 5 in certain matchups. The biggest questions are how much better he can get as a shooter and creator but he made some solid pick-and-roll reads as a ball-handler and he shot 32.0 percent on 3-pointers and 83.8 percent from the free-throw line.

It may be that there is too much positional overlap between him and Zion for them to start together but even if Williams’ ceiling is a high-level bench player it’s a value pick for New Orleans.

Learn more about Patrick Williams with our full scouting report.