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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.
1) Philadelphia 76ers: BEN SIMMONS
2) Los Angeles Lakers: BRANDON INGRAM
3) Phoenix Suns (From Boston): DRAGAN BENDER
4) Utah Jazz (From Phoenix): JAMAL MURRAY
5) Denver Nuggets (from Minnesota) : BUDDY HIELD
6) New Orleans Pelicans: KRIS DUNN
7) Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver): DENZEL VALENTINE
8) Sacramento Kings: JAYLEN BROWN
9) Toronto Raptors: MARQUESE CHRISS
10) Milwaukee Bucks: DEYONTA DAVIS
11) Sacramento Kings (From Orlando): TIMOTHE LUWAWU
12) Utah Jazz: JAKOB POELTL
13) Denver Nuggets (from Phoenix): SKAL LABISSIERE
14) Chicago Bulls: WADE BALDWIN
15) Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver): HENRY ELLENSON
16) Boston Celtics: DOMANTAS SABONIS
17) Utah Jazz (from Memphis) : FURKAN KORKMAZ
18) New Orleans Pelicans (from Detroit) : TAUREAN PRINCE
19) Phoenix Suns (from Denver):
20) Indiana Pacers:
21) Atlanta Hawks:
22) Charlotte Hornets:
23) Detroit Pistons (from Utah ):
24) Philadelphia 76ers:
25) Los Angeles Clippers:
26) Philadelphia 76ers:
27) Toronto Raptors:
28) Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah Jazz) :
29) San Antonio Spurs: