The New Orleans Pelicans and the Indiana Pacers made an interesting trade that didn’t involve any current players on either team being moved. How does the deal impact the Pelicans heading into the 2025 draft?
New Orleans picked up a second first-round choice earlier today, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, from Indiana. The Pelicans now own the No. 7 and No. 23 picks in the first round. The Pelicans also acquired the draft rights to the 2023 second-round selection of Mojave King. Meanwhile, the Pacers regain their own 2026 first-round selection that they sent to Toronto as part of the Pascal Siakam deal.
“The Indiana Pacers are trading their No. 23 pick and the rights to Mojave King to the New Orleans Pelicans for Indiana’s own 2026 first-round pick, which the Pelicans had previously acquired, sources tell ESPN.”
How Does New Orleans Trade With Indiana Impact The 2025 Pelicans Draft?
New Orleans has been one of the NBA’s most snake-bitten franchises recently. The Pelicans have acquired a plethora of talented players over the past several years, but injuries and inconsistency have plagued them. The Pelicans have options with two first-round selections; what will they do with them?
New Orleans is coming off a disastrous year despite adding Dejounte Murray to a talented roster. The Pelicans won just 21 games and were outscored by 9.7 points, as 38 of their setbacks were by double digits. However, Brandon Ingram only played 15 games, and just two Pelicans appeared in 60 games. CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones, Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, and Murray finished the season on the injured list.
“We have some good talent on the roster, “Pelicans general manager Joe Dumars told The New Orleans-Picayune. “When this team has been healthy, it’s been a formidable team. Unfortunately, last year it was decimated by injuries, and I acknowledge that. However, that doesn’t stop you from setting the bar higher and pushing harder to improve. I don’t think we can be satisfied with what happened two years ago when the team had success. I don’t think you can look at that and say, ‘OK, we can see what we can be.’ You have to set the goal higher than that, and that’s what we intend to do. We intend to push for this team to try to max out because there is some good talent on this roster.”
New Orleans moved on from Ingram at the NBA trade deadline, trading him to Toronto. The Pelicans could make more moves with McCollum on an expiring contract and Williamson unable to stay healthy. Dumars told The New Orleans-Picayune that Williamson remains in the Pelicans’ plans.
What Are the Pelicans’ Biggest Offseason Needs?
New Orleans is over the salary cap with 14 players on standard deals, but is $11.8 million under the luxury tax. The Pelicans can clear another $5.4 million from the books by declining Elfrid Payton’s ($ 3.1 million) and Brandon Boston Jr.’s ($2.3 million) team options. However, Boston is coming off a career season and is extremely cheap, so expect the Pelicans to exercise his contract.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Bruce Brown are unrestricted free agents. Brown is likely not to return, although Robinson-Earl could if he doesn’t receive any other offers. Antonio Reeves has a nonguaranteed contract that doesn’t become fully guaranteed until January 1o.
The Pelicans’ biggest need is to improve their center position. Yves Missi and Kelly Olynyk are the only centers on the Pelicans roster. Missi had a tremendous rookie campaign and was named to the All-Rookie second team. He excels on the glass and is a decent rim protector. But he is limited offensively and is not a great finisher around the rim.
Olynyk remains a serviceable backup center and can stretch the floor. But the 34-year-0ld, on an expiring contract, has declined as a scorer and rebounder. Defense hasn’t ever been a strength of Olynyk’s.
2025 NBA Draft Options
By acquiring an extra first-round draft pick, New Orleans has more flexibility. The Pelicans could stay pat and hope their desired selections fall to them. Or they could be selected higher in the draft.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, New Orleans has been in talks with Philadelphia about potentially trading up. The Pelicans, who had the fourth-worst record in the league this past campaign, fell to seventh in the draft lottery.
Since receiving the third pick via the NBA Draft Lottery, Philadelphia has fielded countless calls from teams looking to move up in this year’s draft, league sources told ClutchPoints,” Siegel reported. “One of the teams who spoke at length with the 76ers was the New Orleans Pelicans.”
While improving their center position is a need for the Pelicans, given they have a host of options in the frontcourt, including small-ball lineups, they could look at a guard who can score in the draft. As there are questions surrounding the Pels’ backcourt.
McCollum is in the last season of his deal, and Murray tore his Achilles Tendon in January, so he may not be ready for the season opener. Jose Alvarado is a quality backup point guard who thrives defensively and as a distributor, but he is not a good shooter and has yet to play a full season.
Jordan Hawkins, the No. 14 pick in the 2023 draft, has also struggled shooting the ball. Hawkins did show improvement as a scorer this past season. However, he is a career 37.8% shooter, including 34.8% from the 3-point line.
VJ Edgecombe and Tre Johnson could be options for the Pelicans if they move up. Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Malauch have also been linked to the Pelicans.
Photo Credit: © David Butler II, Imagn Images
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