“With the 19th pick in the 2016 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks select DeAndre' Bembry, a 6'6" small forward from Saint Joseph's University.”

“The 20th pick in the 2016 NBA draft belongs to...the New Orleans Pelicans, they have five minutes to consider.”

With the Hawks' pick at nineteen complete, it was now the Pelicans' turn.

Adam Silver frowned almost imperceptibly when he announced the Pelicans.

The Pelicans' draft record over the past few years had been too good; he hoped they would misjudge this time.

"Are you sure you want to pick him?"

Although Tang Tian had proven his judgment many times, Dell Demps couldn't help but ask again.

Because the player Tang Tian wanted him to pick had good wingspan and defense, but was poor in other aspects, including the shooting the Pelicans needed most, and his ball-handling was also poor.

Especially the three-point shot. In the small-ball era, a frontcourt player who couldn't shoot had very limited use.

Not everyone could become Kawhi Leonard; this kind of player would be lucky to become an Aminu.

"Aminu's free agency market will be very good this year; this is an insurance policy."

Tang Tian explained.

Dell Demps nodded. Although he was somewhat skeptical, he chose to trust Tang Tian.

A staff member took the envelope containing the result and left.

Dell Demps continued to discuss the 22nd pick with Tang Tian.

“With the 20th pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft, the Pelicans select Pascal Siakam, a 6'9" power forward from New Mexico State University.”

Siakam was the player Tang Tian and Dell Demps had been discussing.

This player from Cameroon, Joel Embiid's national teammate, looked very similar to the Pelicans' backup forward Aminu from last season.

His height and wingspan were similar to Aminu's, and he was also good at defense but not shooting when he entered the league.

Unlike Aminu, who played for New Mexico State University, his college performance was significantly worse than Aminu's.

This was also why there was such a big gap in their draft positions, and why Dell Demps was doubtful of Tang Tian.

The Pelicans had healthy salary cap space now. Instead of picking someone who might become Aminu in the future, it would be better to directly renew Aminu's contract.

However, Tang Tian couldn't say too much. He knew that Siakam's ceiling was much higher than Aminu's.

This was related to his body coordination, basketball IQ, and room for improvement, which couldn't be explained by just physical talent.

"No, we won't use the 22nd pick to select a guard with injury concerns; his injury history in college is too serious."

The Pelicans' 20th pick had already been made. When Tang Tian said he wanted to use the 22nd pick to select Brogdon, Dell Demps directly opposed it.

Brogdon played well in college, averaging 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists last season, leading the University of Virginia to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight.

He was also named the National Association of Basketball Coaches Defensive Player of the Year, unanimously selected to the All-American First Team, and became the first player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to win both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

He was full of honors, but Brogdon had played all four years of college before entering the draft, and he missed an entire year during his sophomore year due to a left foot injury.

This kind of older rookie with an injury history had a very low market value in the draft. Being selected in the second round would be considered lucky.

But Tang Tian now wanted to use a mid-first-round pick to select him. This was a much bigger gamble than Siakam.

Siakam was at least a defensive悍将 (hanjiang, valiant warrior). Optimistically speaking, he still had a chance to develop shooting ability like Leonard and Aminu.

But Brogdon was already set in his ways, with no upside and an injury risk. This was too big of a gamble.

"Then try to trade down the pick. Ask for a first-round pick. We lost Dinwiddie and need a player who can contribute immediately."

Tang Tian didn't insist, but offered a compromise and gave Dell Demps a reason he could accept.

Dell Demps reluctantly agreed.

Although, theoretically speaking, it would be better to find a player who can contribute immediately in free agency, he still had to give Tang Tian face.

The draft continued, and Dell Demps moved quickly, reaching a trade with the Suns before the 22nd pick.

“A trade has occurred. The 22nd pick in the first round of the NBA draft belongs to the Phoenix Suns. They have five minutes to consider.”

After Adam Silver announced the trade, the details of the trade also scrolled behind him.

In fact, Adrian Wojnarowski had reported it first, and most people already knew the contents of the trade.

The Pelicans sent this year's 22nd pick, 60th pick, and some cash to the Suns in exchange for the 27th pick (from the Cavaliers) and a future second-round pick.

With the 22nd pick, the Suns selected Malachi Richardson, a 6'6" shooting guard from Syracuse University.

The draft continued, but Brogdon was still available.

The information that Dell Demps had was known to other team general managers as well.

Except for Tang Tian, no one wanted to select a guard with an injury history in the first round.

You had to know that in the draft, the least lacking was guards. They were everywhere.

“With the 27th pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft, the Pelicans select…Malcolm Brogdon, a 6'5" shooting guard from the University of Virginia.”

When the Pelicans made this selection, there was a burst of cheers from the Pelicans fans in the audience.

Brogdon had a high reputation in college. For fans, besides the generally recognized potential stocks, they couldn't see any other potential.

Especially at the end of the first round, fame was what they valued more.

However, the general managers of other teams saw this and secretly laughed.

Adam Silver finally relaxed his brow after seeing this.

Finally, the Pelicans had made a wrong choice.

Brogdon had also come to the draft site. Although he didn't enter the green room, he had high expectations for himself.

The lottery didn't want him, and as the first round was coming to an end, no one still wanted him.

Just when he was frustrated and thought he would fall out of the first round, the Pelicans finally picked him up.

He excitedly got up and walked quickly to the stage.

Although the contract would be smaller at the end of the first round, it was still the first round after all, and he could directly get a guaranteed contract. This was fundamentally different from the second round.

The Pelicans' first-round draft was over. Because the 60th pick had already been traded, their draft mission for this year was also over.

Dell Demps stayed in the draft room to wait for possible trade proposals from other teams. Tang Tian said goodbye in advance and then went downstairs.

Siakam and Brogdon, if they could see the future, they would know how much the Pelicans had gained in this year's draft.

Especially Brogdon.

Siakam was a potential stock that needed time to grow, but Brogdon, as he said, was an absolutely immediate contributor.

With the team losing Dinwiddie, it was great to add him.

Especially since he was particularly good at three-point shooting, which was what the Pelicans needed most.