NBA Draft 2020: 5 best fits for Cole Anthony

3. New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans executive David Griffin found grace from the basketball gods last summer, coming away from the 2019 NBA Draft with Zion Williamson with the first overall pick and a trio of other promising prospects (Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada) out of their trade-back with Atlanta. If Cole Anthony is available when the Pels are on the clock, Griffin could be adding another long-term piece with real upside to an already stacked core.

The roster fit would be seamless, even with the defensive concerns. Slotting the small guard next to either Jrue Holiday and Lonzo Ball wouldn’t be problematic in the least, given the pair’s strong playmaking and backcourt defense (Holiday at the point of attack, Ball as a helper). Anthony would certainly come off the bench, at least as a rookie (Holiday has a player option for the 2021-22 season), but he gives the team a much-needed scoring punch out of the pick-and-roll, with the current Pelican ball handlers coming in dead-last in the league in points per possession out of the pick-and-roll (0.77). Anthony would also provide the young Pels with an off-the-bounce complement to Brandon Ingram, whose pull-up real estate is largely based in the mid-post where his elite length makes his jumper almost unblockable for shorter defenders. And, of course, there’s Zion Williamson. How on earth would an opposing defense scheme against an Anthony-Williamson pick-and-roll?

There are some internal factors muddying the potential of such a prospect-team pairing. Following a lackluster 2-6 stint in Orlando, Griffin opted to relieve Alvin Gentry (175-225 record in five seasons) of his coaching duties, with the offseason’s primary focus shifting toward finding a replacement for an offensive guru whose defensive scheme left, well, a lot to be desired. Should the Pels hire one of the more favorable options, such as former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson whose developmental reputation precedes him, then Anthony’s fit in New Orleans would be clear. But if they were to opt for someone with a checkered history (Jason Kidd) or someone who works best with vets (Ty Lue), it’s more questionable.