Who did the Pelicans draft? Get to know Yves Missi, Antonio Reeves
At the 2024 NBA Draft, Taylor Rooks talks with No. 21 overall pick Yves Missi about how he might fit in with the Pelicans.
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The Pelicans entered the 2024 NBA Draft with the No. 21 overall pick.
No. 21 pick: Yves Missi
Missi a bouncy center with Belgian-Cameroonian origins who played his high school ball at Prolific Prep in California. Born in Belgium before moving to Cameroon for his childhood, Missi ultimately blossomed into a five-star recruit and graded as ESPN’s 13th-best player in the 2023 class. He earned Big 12 All-Defensive and All-Freshman honors in 2024, finishing his one-and-done campaign with averages of 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in just 23.0 minutes per game while shooting 61.4% from the field and generating 4.1 free-throw attempts per game.
A dangerous rim-runner, Missi ranked eighth in the nation with 76 dunk attempts this season. Deriving 32.2% of his offensive possessions from rolling in pick-and-roll plays marked the 17th-highest frequency in the nation, displaying a clear niche to translate to the pros. Another 34.4% of Missi’s possessions came via offensive rebounding and cuts around the basket, so he profiles strictly as a play-finisher at this time.
His 14.4% offensive rebounding rate was the 32nd-highest mark in the nation. In addition to his rim presence on offense, Missi’s 7.1% block rate ranked 66th in the nation. The big man was also able to protect the rim at a high level without fouling out of a single game in 34 appearances. — RotoWire. Go deeper.
No. 47 pick: Antonio Reeves
- DRAFT TRADE: Pelicans acquire Reeves from Magic
At 6-foot-5, Reeves is an elite three-point shooter, but his jumper is a set shot with limited lift, which may be difficult to get off in the NBA. He has the skill set to be a capable 3-and-D professional, but at 24 years old, Reeves isn’t an ideal prospect. He developed into a savvy all-around player in college, but his three-point prowess makes him worthy of NBA consideration. — RotoWire. Go deeper.
