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. <\/p>\n
Despite holding the fourth-best odds, the Pelicans dropped three spots, and their Western Conference opponents have the opportunity to get stronger. <\/p>\n
TOP 10 NBA LOTTERY TEAMS<\/p>\n
DallasSan AntonioPhiladelphiaCharlotteUtahWashingtonNew OrleansBrooklynTorontoHouston (via Phoenix) <\/p>\n
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\u2019s fit. <\/p>\n
For the Pelicans at No. 7, here\u2019s a look at players that may be available when they\u2019re on the board: <\/p>\n
Kon Knueppel | SF | Duke<\/p>\n
While the Pelicans won\u2019t 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Tre Johnson | G | Texas<\/p>\n
Teams looking for a dynamic scoring punch may find one in Texas guard Tre Johnson. He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Jeremiah Fears | G | Oklahoma<\/p>\n
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\u20324 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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Derik Queen | C | Maryland<\/p>\n
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. For the Pelicans, he would provide a skillset similar to current power forward Kelly Olynyk. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Khaman Maluach | C | Duke<\/p>\n
7\u20322 center Khaman Maluach from Duke is the best defensive center in the draft and would be an imposing rim protector. He\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
MORE PELICANS<\/p>\n
Trade brewing?<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a possibility that the No. 7 pick isn\u2019t made by the Pelicans, or if it is, that player never suits up for New Orleans. <\/p>\n
If the Joe Dumars regime sees missing out on Flagg as a lost opportunity to pair Williamson with star power, they could look to trade the pick. <\/p>\n
As there is a possibility that Giannis Antetokounmpo may be on his way out of Milwaukee due to a lack of postseason success after the Bucks\u2019 Championship win in 2021, ESPN\u2019s Brian Windhorst called the Pelicans a \u201cwild card\u201d team to get in on the sweepstakes during a Monday broadcast of Get Up. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe New Orleans Pelicans control the next three drafts for the Milwaukee Bucks,\u201d Windhorst said. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to do a deal with the Bucks, and you want to open the door for them to do a rebuild, you may have to go to New Orleans, try to get the Milwaukee stuff out of New Orleans, and try to offer it back to the Bucks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Windhorst also said that the Pelicans may try to make a straight-up offer with the Bucks, but he thinks that New Orleans may try to get it done through a three-way trade.<\/p>\n
Of course, to acquire Giannis, the Pelicans would have to send out some major salary in any potential deal. Here are the Pels\u2019 biggest salary earners:<\/p>\n
Zion Williamson $39.5 million, UFA 2028Dejounte Murray $30.8 million, player option in 2027C.J. McCollum $30.7 million, UFA 2026Trey Murphy III $25 million, UFA 2029<\/p>\n
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