2023 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Victor Wembanyama makes surprise team happy

The Pelicans might have the luxury of competing for a championship and selecting top-10 on draft night thanks to the Anthony Davis trade. If this does come to pass, it’s hard to imagine a better fit than Anthony Black. The Pelicans already have multiple star creators and high-level defenders: Black is the string that can tie everything together.

That’s mild hyperbole, but connective tissue guys like Black are what the Pelicans “need” on a roster littered with elite scorers and specialized role players. Black is a tremendous passer and playmaker who doesn’t need to dominate touches to impact winning. He’s swift and precise in his decision-making, all while providing size and versatility on the defensive end at 6-foot-6.

You will often hear Black labeled as a “point guard” or “comboguard” of sorts, and that’s true: he’s a tremendous passer who can help lead the offense. But he should be thought of more in the Lonzo Ball lane than the Chris Paul lane (strictly in terms of archetype, not caliber of player). He doesn’t have the burst or creativity to create his own shot consistently, but he’s constantly spreading the wealth and making the right play. His 3-point efficiency is in a good spot, but moving forward he will need to focus on increasing the volume.

The Pelicans select Black here for many of the same reasons that led them to select Dyson Daniels in the 2022 lottery. And guess what: you can’t really have too many players like that. Both Black and Daniels have enough size and defensive flexibility to play with each other and alongside New Orleans’ other cornerstone guards, CJ McCollum and Jose Alvarado.