Yves Missi is still in the early process of getting to know his new city of New Orleans. But the new Pelicans rookie has heard plenty about one important element in particular.
Yes, that'd be the food.
"I feel like everywhere I go I have people telling me ‘oh, you’re gonna bet bigger,’ " Missi told reporters during his introductory press conference. "I said, all right.”
The No. 21 overall pick knows a bit more about the team that drafted, and one well-known truth about new teammate Zion Williamson.
"I know that there will be more about him more than me, for sure," he said.
That fit could very well be the key in Missi, whom new Pelicans GM Bryson Graham described as something of a developmental prospect, getting on the floor as a young player. The GM noted one aspect of Missi's game that drew the Pelicans to him was his instincts, as well as his ability to get out of the way -- something any teammate of Zion will have to do with the star frequently attacking the rim.
The 7-foot, 230-pound Missi is a similarly electric athlete, measuring in with a 38 inch vertical leap, a rarity for a player his size. He should profile as an elite lob threat and rim protector that the Pelicans haven't had in their previous build around veteran Jonas Valanciunas. Larry Nance has also played the 5 in small-ball lineups. His growth and work ethic is what makes the Pelicans brass confident this could be a winning combination in the long-term.
"Coach [Willie] Green loves players that can switch defensively and can put pressure on the rim coming out of pick and rolls," Graham said, "being able to free up the weak side of the floor is something that we like to incorporate into our offense and so I think he’s going to fit really, really nicely.”
Missi was joined at the podium by Antonio Reeves, the Kentucky shooting guard that the Pelicans traded to No. 47 to select. Knocking down nearly 45% of his 3-point attempts in his senior season at a high-volume clip, he's been described by some as the best pure shooter in the draft.
Reeves agreed with that assessment, saying that he'd liken his game to that of retired sharpshooter Reggie Miller.
"That’s how I feel, as if I’m the best shooter in the draft," Reeves said. "I feel like I am, to be honest … so just being able to work every day and just stay in the gym and don’t even worry about that, just keep doing what you're doing.”
He'll join a group of recent draft picks in Trey Murphy and Jordan Hawkins who also shot over 40% in their final college season and were lauded as one of the elite shooters -- possibly even the best shooter -- in their respective drafts. Murphy was the first to reach out to both players, with he and Reeves' relationship going back even prior to the draft.
“He basically just said ‘whenever you get here, let’s go to work,’ “ Reeves said.
Pelicans fans won't have to wait long to watch Reeves, Missi and several other young players get on the floor, with the team's Summer League slate scheduled to being on July 12 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the schedule announced this week. They'll also have games on July 14 (Magic), July 16 (Spurs) and July 18 (Memphis).
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