2024 NBA draft: Analysts grade the New Orleans Pelicans’ addition of Antonio Reeves

Former Kentucky basketball star Antonio Reeves was chosen by the Orlando Magic with the 47th overall pick and traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2024 NBA draft on Thursday night.

Here’s how NBA analysts graded the move.

A — Krysten Peek, Yahoo Sports: “Reeves is a bucket-getter and was the leader on a Kentucky team that was loaded with a ton of young talent. He’s clutch in high-pressure situations (averaging 45% from 3-point range) and even though he’s 23, Reeves has found ways to improve and add to his game every year.”

B — Kyle Irving, The Sporting News: “Reeves is a 23-year-old sniper who shot 44.7 percent on 188 3-point attempts at Kentucky.”

B+ — Kyle Boone, CBS Sports: “Reeves will turn 24 as a rookie and is mostly a shooting specialist who doesn’t add much in the way of playmaking, but if he can continue his sharpshooting in the NBA like he did in college, the Pels might have something.”

B+ — Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report: “Reeves is — as the cool kids maybe still say — a bucket. He is a shooting threat above all else, but he is nearly just as potent when zipping inside the arc for pull-ups, floaters and close-range finishes. Reeves is a better off-the-dribble shooter than off-the-catch, though, and he might top out as a neutral defender (if he gets that far).”

B- — Danny Chau, The Ringer: “In his last three seasons at Illinois State and Kentucky, Reeves shot 41.1 percent from 3. But for how efficient he is from deep, he isn’t a true movement shooter, which hampers his viability on the floor. He’s one of the oldest players in the draft and one who, despite having clear NBA-level skills, might not have the frame to easily put it all together.”