NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Before there was a collective groan from the entire world outside of the Greater Dallas-Fort Worth area Monday night, hope of winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery was quickly dashed for Pelicans fans as the team ended up with the No. 7 pick.
After a trade with the Indiana Pacers during the Finals, the Pelicans also acquired the No. 23 pick for a total of two picks in the first round.
Despite holding the fourth-best odds for No. 1 overall, the Pelicans dropped three spots, and their Western Conference opponents have the opportunity to get stronger.
TOP 10 NBA LOTTERY TEAMS
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Outside the Top 4 picks, the question of which players will land on what team is up for grabs. Conventional wisdom for the NBA Draft is that the best value for lottery teams picking in the Top 10 is to select players with the most talent and highest ceilings over a team’s fit.
Two things to look at heading into Wednesday’s draft: The Pelicans traded away veteran shooting guard C.J. McCollum and power forward Kelly Olynyk for 26-year-olds Jordan Poole and Seddiq Bey from Washington, plus the No. 40 overall pick. The Pelicans suddenly get younger, but they’re also in the market for a big man.
With multiple picks, the Pelicans are a team to watch for possibly trading up or down the draft order, as several teams across the league are also poised to be involved in a seller’s market.
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For the Pelicans at No. 7, here’s a look at players that may be available when they’re on the board:
Ace Bailey | SG/SF | Rutgers
Ace Bailey, a freshman out of Rutgers, is the mystery man of this draft. Some mock drafts have him going as high as the Top 3. However, some teams have reportedly been turned off by the 6′10 swingman as he and his agent have canceled several interviews and workouts with teams. Some executives have said they’ve heard from Bailey’s camp that he has a list of preferred destinations as he seeks a path to stardom in his eventual landing spot.
The Pelicans have the assets to potentially trade up in the draft to make a splash if they seek to do so. Or Bailey could be sliding on the “best available” board and land in New Orleans at No. 7. Bailey can shoot from anywhere on the floor, and his size and versatility can translate to potential NBA stardom if developed right.
Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 46 percent shooting for Rutgers.
Kon Knueppel | SF | Duke
While the Pelicans won’t get Cooper Flagg, they can select one of his Final Four Duke teammates. Kon Knueppel is a sharpshooter who excels both on catch-and-shoots and off-ball movement. He’s capable of running pick-and-rolls and is at his best in transition. His skillset and understanding of space would be a fit alongside Zion Williamson, similar to current Pels forward Trey Murphy III.
Tre Johnson | G | Texas
Teams looking for a dynamic scoring punch may find one in Texas guard Tre Johnson. He’s a playmaking guard who can get it done off the dribble and off of screens. Despite a dynamic offensive skillset, his defense may be a work in progress coming into a rookie season.
Jeremiah Fears | G | Oklahoma
Dynamic combo point and scoring guard Dylan Harper out of Rutgers is expected to be off the board soon after Flagg, but Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears might be the next best thing. The 6′4 guard has a knack for the point of attack and has also proven himself as a clutch shooter. The Pelicans need to figure out who their point guard of the future is. Currently, they have Dejounte Murray coming off an Achilles injury, backed up by Gretna native and vet Elfrid Payton and fan favorite Jose Alvarado.
Derik Queen | C | Maryland
Maryland center Derik Queen is a player with a big offensive bag. He needs to continue to develop an outside shot for a modern league that needs spacing, but he could be an attractive prospect for a team looking to join the trend of adding skilled big men. He’s been compared to DeMarcus Cousins and Nikola Jokic by some scouts. For the Pelicans, he would provide a skill set similar to that of power forward Kelly Olynyk, whom they sent to Washington as part of the C.J. McCollum for Jordan Poole swap. For Maryland, he averaged 16.5 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor.
Khaman Maluach | C | Duke
7′2 center Khaman Maluach from Duke is the best defensive center in the draft and would be an imposing rim protector. He’s a work in progress on the offensive end, like the current starter and former Rookie of the Year Candidate Yves Missi, but as the NBA continues to trend big, teams are stockpiling frontcourt players.
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Who do the Pels take at No. 23?
In what appears to be a deep talent class, the mid-to-late portion of the first round is projected to be rich in guard and wing prospects.
Here are what could be the three best players who could be available when the Pelicans take the podium at No. 23 overall:
Nique Clifford | SG | Colorado State
Out of all the prospects that will likely be available from pick No. 20 to later, Nique Clifford is the one that could be a surprise pick by a team in the teens looking for a guard with a scorer’s mentality. The shooting guard has NBA-ready skills and could be an instant offense player off the bench. Clifford averaged 19 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists on 50 percent shooting from the floor last season.
Will Riley | SG/SF | Illinois
The Pelicans already have Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III, but you can’t have enough serviceable wings in the NBA. Will Riley checks the box for a versatile player who can provide a decent shot selection on the floor. Riley averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 43.2 percent shooting from the floor.
Danny Wolf | PF | Michigan
Danny Wolf out of Michigan could also wind up being the best prospect available when the Pelicans are on the board at No. 23. At 6′10, Wolf is a highly skilled big that could be paired well next to Yves Missi or Zion Williamson. Wolf averaged 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game on 33.6 percent shooting last season.
There is also always the possibility that the pick could be part of a draft-night trade, or the Pelicans draft a prospect at No. 23 but later send them to another team in a deal.
The closer we get to Wednesday’s draft, the more anything can happen. Be sure to tune into the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network for our draft night coverage, beginning at 7 p.m. Check your local listing for more info.
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