Getty The New Orleans Pelicans could look to pair De'Andre Hunter with Zion Williamson.
The New Orleans Pelicans find themselves with a top five pick with less than a week before draft day and our latest mock has New Orleans selecting De’Andre Hunter at No. 4. The Pelicans acquired the No. 4 pick along with two future first round picks from the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
New Orleans will have a difficult decision to make with so little time remaining. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Pelicans are already receiving trade offers for the pick, so there is no guarantee they stay at No. 4. The Pelicans are locked in on Zion Williamson with the top pick and could pair two former ACC foes together.
Hunter already has experience guarding players one through five on defense. It was one of the traits Virginia coach Tony Bennett praised the forward for during his college career. The Pelicans have offensive firepower with their current roster (along with Williamson) which will allow Hunter’s game to come along slowly while excelling at defense.
Jarrett Culver, Darius Garland & De’Andre Hunter Are 3 Names to Watch for the Pelicans
Three likely players the Pelicans could focus on is Hunter along with Jarrett Culver and Darius Garland. Hunter gives them some flexibility at both forward spots aside Brandon Ingram. Julius Randle is also a free agent with no guarantees that he will be back with the Pelicans.
Culver also makes sense but the Pelicans now have a bit of a logjam at shooting guard. Garland is a name to watch depending on how strongly Pelicans GM David Griffin feels about Lonzo Ball as the team’s future point guard. The Lakers are now without a draft pick for 2019 but are still expected to be active in free agency.
Here is a look at our updated NBA mock draft after the trade.
NBA Mock Draft 2019: 1st Round Picks
| TEAM | PLAYER |
| No. 1 Pelicans | PF Zion Williamson, Duke |
| No. 2 Grizzlies | PG Ja Morant, Murray State |
| No. 3 Knicks | SG RJ Barrett, Duke |
| No. 4 Pelicans (via Lakers) | SF De’Andre Hunter, Virginia |
| No. 5 Cavs | SG Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech |
| No. 6 Suns | PG Darius Garland, Vanderbilt |
| No. 7 Bulls | PG Coby White, UNC |
| No. 8 Hawks | SG Cam Reddish, Duke |
| No. 9 Wizards | C Jaxson Hayes, Texas |
| No. 10 Hawks | F Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga |
| No. 11 Timberwolves | PF Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga |
| No. 12 Hornets | PF PJ Washington, Kentucky |
| No. 13 Heat | SF Nassir Little, UNC |
| No. 14 Celtics (via Kings) | F Sekou Doumbouya, Limoges |
| No. 15 Pistons | SG Kevin Porter Jr., USC |
| No. 16 Magic | SF Keldon Johnson, Kentucky |
| No. 17 Hawks (via Nets) | SF Romeo Langford, Indiana |
| No. 18 Pacers | G Tyler Herro, Kentucky |
| No. 19 Spurs | SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech |
| No. 20 Celtics (via Clippers) | F Cam Johnson, UNC |
| No. 21 Thunder | C Bol Bol, Oregon |
| No. 22 Celtics | PF Grant Williams, Tennessee |
| No. 23 Jazz | SF Talen Horton-Tucker, Iowa State |
| No. 24 Sixers | G Carsen Edwards, Purdue |
| No. 25 Blazers | SF KZ Okpala, Stanford |
| No. 26 Cavs (via Rockets) | C Nic Claxton, Georgia |
| No. 27 Nets (via Nuggets) | SF Matisse Thybulle, Washington |
| No. 28 Warriors | G Ty Jerome, Virginia |
| No. 29 Spurs (via Raptors) | PF Luka Samanic, Olimpija Ljubljana |
| No. 30 Bucks | SF Admiral Schofield, Tennessee |
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NBA Mock Draft 2019: Pelicans Pick De’Andre Hunter at No. 4