2015 NBA Draft results: Pelicans grab Branden Dawson with No. 56 pick

Dawson spent four years with the Spartans as a 6’6 swingman, averaging 11 points and nine rebounds as a senior. He’s not a shooter, failing to hit a single three-pointer while with Michigan State, which severely limits his impact. However, there’s always a chance for him to develop some semblance of a shot and boost his other skills enough to carve out a role in the NBA.

Very few players in the final few picks of an NBA draft end up becoming long-term players in the league, so New Orleans is taking a flier on an experienced pro who showed with the Spartans that he knows how to help his team win. Like everyone drafted around him, there’s a few reasons to think that at some point, Dawson could grow as a player and help an NBA team, even if it’s unlikely.