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NBA Draft: Too-Early NBA Rookie of the Year Power Rankings

By Cody Williams

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Brandon Ingram (Duke) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Brandon Ingram (Duke) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) shows off the inside of his jacket after being selected as the number six overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) shows off the inside of his jacket after being selected as the number six overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Buddy Hield, SG — No. 6 Pick, New Orleans Pelicans

As good of a situation that I think Wade Baldwin is going to be in, there’s no better match of talent, player, and situation than Buddy Hield going to the New Orleans Pelicans when it comes to 2016-17 NBA Rookie of the Year candidacy. I think Hield is going to come into a situation where he’s direly needed, be used like he’s direly needed, and put up numbers in a substantial way.

Considering how disastrous things ended up for the Pelicans last season, they have a lot of areas that they need to address in a substantial manner this offseason. However, with the departure (a merciful one, it should be said) of Eric Gordon, they have a tremendous hole on the wing and a dire need for an offensive weapon or even threat on the wing to help to space the floor. If nothing else, the sweet-shooting Hield out of Oklahoma can be just that for this team.

Next: Top 25 NBA Free Agents in 2016

Yes, the Pelicans need to do something about their frontcourt alongside Anthony Davis if they want to rebound and find their way into the postseason once again. However, adding Hield on the wing is also a necessary addition and one that’s going to give the Sooner a bevy of opportunities to step up to the plate and score. I believe he’s capable of doing that in a big way and more in New Orleans and that’s why he tops these initial way-too-early rankings.

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