Pelicans target stabilizing Arizona guard Jaden Bradley in the second round. His playmaking and defensive presence could spark New Orleans immediately.
Just because the New Orleans Pelicans don't have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, it doesn't mean that they can't find some talent waiting for them in the second round where they have a late pick coming from the Detroit Pistons.
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor recently released an updated mock draft, which shows the Pelicans grabbing Arizona Wildcats point guard Jaden Bradley with the No. 58 overall pick. It's actually a pretty solid fit.
"Arizona looked hopeless any time Bradley wasn't on the floor. He's a stabilizing guard, he hits big shots and he makes plays on defense. He might be a senior, but he has the tools to get drafted," said O'Connor.
New Orleans took Micah Peavy in last year's second round, knowing that he would be 24 years old as a rookie. That shows that the front office is not scared to take a little bit older of a prospect if the potential is there to be a quick contributor. Bradley will be 23 as a rookie, so he's even younger.
Bradley averaged 13.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game with just 1.7 turnovers a game and 46.3/39.4/80.9 shooting splits. It was a fantastic senior campaign and earned him a couple of All-American Third-Team nods.
The New York native was the engine of a Wildcats offense that was one of the best in the country last season. He was surrounded by a lot of talent, but Bradley was the glue that held it together.
He has the basketball IQ and motor to be at least a bench piece for the Pelicans right away. The shooting is the biggest question mark for him coming out of college. He was streaky and had inconsistent volume.
They aren't the same players at all, but Bradley would be a fun option for New Orleans to look into to replace Jose Alvarado, who they moved at the last trade deadline. Bradley is a little bit taller, but is a streaky shooter in big moments, can handle the ball and will try are on the defensive side of things.
While adding to the front court is a bigger need and they need more shooting wings, this certainly wouldn't be a bad outcome for New Orleans.