The NBA draft has come and gone.

While the New Orleans Pelicans provided a feel-good story in the second round, the remainder of the draft left their fans craving something to feel good about heading into the season.

One thing is clear: Joe Dumars and assistant Troy Weaver still have plenty of work to do to improve a roster that failed to win 30 games in each of the past two years.

Here are five things we learned about the Pelicans at this year’s draft.

1. The draft pick

This is the obvious place to start considering the Pelicans had just one pick in the draft. They had to wait until almost the very end, selecting SMU guard Jaron Pierre with the No. 58 overall pick.

The New Orleans native played his high school ball at St. Augustine and became the first homegrown player ever drafted by the franchise, but don’t get it twisted: The Pelicans didn’t draft him because he’s from here. They selected him because he can flat out play.

He averaged 17.7 points last season at SMU and 21.6 points the year before at Jacksonville State. He can shoot. He can jump out of the gym. He doesn’t mind defending. He has just the type of toughness Dumars covets.

His path to the NBA wasn’t easy, with him playing at four different colleges in six years. But it shows just how determined he was to make it, and the Pels may have found a second-round gem who can stick around. Pierre will have his introductory news conference with the local media on Monday morning, but he really needs no introduction around here. 

2. First-round silence

The Pelicans didn’t have a first-round pick this year. There was plenty of speculation that they may try to make a trade to move into the first round. Because of that, Pelicans fans were fully tuned into the first round.

Every five minutes, NBA commissioner Adam Silver came out to the podium in Brooklyn and announced picks. And as those five minutes turned into three hours, reality set in that the Pelicans weren’t making a move.

While many fans were disappointed, they shouldn’t have been. Dumars listened to numerous phone calls for teams making trade offers. But he wasn’t going to make a trade just for the sake of making one. He went into any negotiations knowing what he wanted in return and if teams weren’t willing to give that, Dumars stood firm. That’s a good thing.

3. Revisiting Queen trade

The trade Dumars made with the Atlanta Hawks on draft night of 2025 to get Derik Queen didn’t end up being quite as bad as it looked a year ago.

Yes, Dumars should have at least protected the 2026 pick. The Hawks ended up with the No. 8 pick and used it Tuesday night to draft Houston guard Kingston Flemings. So in summary, the Pelicans got Queen and the Hawks got Flemings along with last year’s 2025 pick Asa Newell.

Queen played in 81 games, averaging 11.7 points and 7.1 rebounds with a pair of triple-doubles. He was also voted second team on the All-Rookie team, meaning he had somewhere between the sixth-to-10th best season in the 2025 class. Newell played in 44 games for the Hawks, averaging just 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds.

How well Queen, Newell and Flemings do in the future will decide who won the trade, but the early returns favor Queen. Especially if his defense improves.

4. Now what?

The Pelicans still need to fill that giant hole in the middle of their lineup. Priority No. 1 for Dumars should be finding a center to play alongside Zion Williamson and Queen.

Since the Pels didn’t address it in the draft, they’ll have to either trade for one or sign one in free agency. A pair of guys with Louisiana ties (North Caddo alum Robert Williams and Chalmette High alum Mitchell Robinson) are among the guys out there in free agency. Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner is also a name to watch if Dumars decides to take the trade route.

5. Who’s going? Who’s staying?

Unless Dumars thinks first-year coach Jamahl Mosley can turn water into wine, the Pelicans can’t just run it back with the same team that won just 26 games last season. It would be ideal for Mosley to get the pieces he needs, especially the aforementioned big man.

Outside of Williamson, the players most wanted by other teams are Trey Murphy and Herb Jones. Expect their names to continue to come up in trade talks. Despite his lofty contract, Jordan Poole didn’t contribute much last year in his first season in New Orleans. His name will be one to watch over the next few weeks.

The Pelicans, according to a Friday report from NBATV, are expected to decline the $8 million team option on Kevon Looney. The veteran center, who rarely played in his one season in New Orleans, is expected to become an unrestricted free agent. Free agency begins on Tuesday. The decision on Looney is the first move the Pels have made this season.

More changes better be on the way if the Pelicans want to give their fans something to feel good about.