NBA Mock Draft: Pelicans Select Taurean Prince After Trade With Jazz, Pistons

SB Nation's NBA Network conducted a mock draft with bloggers from each team site making or trading "their" team's pick. We continue with the next pick in the 2016 NBA Mock Draft, with The Bird Writes discussing their trade and subsequent selection of Taurean Prince

By Dakota Schmidt@Dakota_Schmidt Jun 21, 2016, 1:00pm EDT

NBA Mock Draft Pick #18 -- Taurean Prince, Small Forward, Baylor

The New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons have agreed to a three team trade. The Pelicans receive the #18 pick. The Pistons receive the #23 and #39 pick alongside Trey Burke. The Utah Jazz receive Tyreke Evans.

SB Nation's Pelicans blog, The Bird Writes, explains the trade and subsequent pick:

Trading away Tyreke Evans was high on our list of priorities this off-season. While a great individual talent, his skill set does not fit the direction the Pelicans are headed. With the arrival of Kris Dunn and the expected return of Tim Frazier moving Evans for talent on the wing became even easier. Trading away Evans and a second round pick for one of the best 3&D prospects in this draft was not a difficult decision.

The Pelicans have found themselves lacking on the wing for years and Taurean Prince has both the physical tools (6'7.75" tall with a 6'11.5" wingspan) and skill set (37.8% behind the arc in his last two seasons at Baylor) this franchise desperately needs. Eventually we hope Prince can play small forward and log minutes as a small ball power forward beside Anthony Davis.

Ridiculous Upside analysis: In their continued pursuit to add NBA-ready prospects to put alongside Anthony Davis, the Pelicans select Taurean Prince. Prince resembles that perfect 3-and-D wing due to his frame (stands 6'7' with a 6'11'' wingspan) and solid perimeter jumper (shot 38% from 3 in last two years with Baylor). Alongside those skills, Prince has developed into a solid cutter and shows nice court vision.