Adam Himmelsbach

ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com

Through interviews, scouting, and workouts, the New Orleans Pelicans had identified a small group of players they were interested in trading into the NBA draft to select. And Louisville guard Russ Smith was near the top of that list.

Prior to the draft, the Pelicans reached out to the Philadelphia 76ers about acquiring the 47th overall pick. As the night unfolded and Smith remained on the board, the 76ers agreed to a deal in which they would acquire guard Pierre Jackson in exchange for the selection.

Smith was introduced to the world as a 76er, but in New Orleans, the Pelicans were thrilled because they knew they had gotten their man. Smith was even slightly surprised by the news, because he had completed workouts for 15 teams and the Pelicans had not been one of them. But this process began long before those workouts.

"Really, it was (the 2012-13 national championship season) when he caught my eye," Pelicans general manager Dell Demps said in a telephone interview on Monday. "It was when he was playing with Peyton Siva. Just the way those two got after it defensively, it was fun to watch."

The Pelicans scouts tracked Smith closely during his senior season at U of L. They saw the evolution from Russ-diculous to Russ-diligent. Demps said the fact that he was coached by Rick Pitino for four years made him an even more intriguing prospect.

Ultimately, though, the franchise was sold on Smith the way so many others are sold on him. The team brought in Smith for an interview at the NBA draft combine in Chicago in May. There were seven Pelicans employees in the room — front office members and coaches and scouts. And then there was Russ.

He sat there and he shared his story. It was a story Louisville fans are familiar with, a story that made this city fall for him. He talked about how he had hardly been recruited out of high school in Brooklyn. He talked about how he had worked to prove himself, to prove his worth, his entire life. He talked about his maturation at U of L, arriving as a player who just wanted to fit in, leaving as a leader.

The Pelicans' executives were blown away.

"He kept his composure the whole time, and everything he said, we really believed," Demps said. "I remember when he walked out of the interview room, all of our guys looked at each other and said, 'We want this guy on our team.' "

So when the opportunity presented itself on draft night, Demps knew he could not pass it up.

The Pelicans' rookie minicamp began on Monday, and this weekend Smith will head to Las Vegas to play for the franchise's summer league team. Demps said Smith needs to establish himself as a defensive presence in Las Vegas, and he said a high energy level would be essential.

"I think this is a great opportunity for him to interact with our coaches and get an understanding of our system," Demps said. "I think it'll be a good environment for him to get an understanding of what's ahead."

The Pelicans' roster will continue to take shape as players make decisions in free agency, and as a second-round pick, Smith knows there are no guarantees.

The Pelicans declined to extend a $2.8 million qualifying offer to backup point guard Brian Roberts, ostensibly making it more likely for Smith — and his smaller salary — to make the final cut.

Yes, there is still plenty of work ahead. But for Russ Smith, that has always been the easy part.

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at 502-582-4372 by email ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com and on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach