New Orleans Pelicans Plot Bold Move to Climb 2025 NBA Draft

by Rell Wright Pelicans Contributor

The New Orleans Pelicans are making waves ahead of the NBA Draft, with reports suggesting they’re eager to move up from the No. 7 pick. League insiders believe Rutgers star Ace Bailey could be their target, but the question remains—what will the Pelicans sacrifice to land him?

New VP Joe Dumars faces a critical decision in reshaping a roster built around Zion Williamson while navigating salary cap challenges and luxury tax concerns. Could this draft night gamble define Dumars’ vision for the team?

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The Pelicans are reportedly aggressively trying to move up in the draft, and Ace Bailey is a potential target, per @KevinOConnorNBA

“League sources continue to cite the Pelicans as a team aggressively looking to move up in the draft, with most front-office executives believing… pic.twitter.com/kR8Xn5JeVG

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 12, 2025

As rumors swirl, the Pelicans must also address glaring roster needs, particularly at center. While Khaman Maluach has drawn interest as a potential pick, the team’s preference for double-big lineups complicates the fit.

With untouchable talents like Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi in their ranks, Dumars and the front office must strike a delicate balance between developing homegrown talent and pursuing outside help.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for New Orleans, a small-market team chasing championship aspirations. With a history of uncovering diamonds in the rough like Jose Alvarado and Herbert Jones, the Pelicans have proven they can find talent.

Now, they face their most significant challenge yet: taking bold steps to secure a brighter future while ensuring Williamson remains the franchise cornerstone.

Position	Starter	2nd	3rd/Reserves	Comments
Point Guard	Dejounte Murray	Jose Alvarado	Elfrid Payton	Murray’s playmaking and defensive versatility solidify the position, with Alvarado adding energy off the bench.
Shooting Guard	CJ McCollum	Trey Murphy III	Brandon Boston Jr.	McCollum provides veteran leadership, while Murphy excels as a sharpshooter and defender.
Small Forward	Trey Murphy III	Herbert Jones	Bruce Brown Jr.	Jones and Brown offer defensive versatility to complement Murphy’s offensive game.
Power Forward	Zion Williamson	Kelly Olynyk	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl	Williamson anchors the offense, while Olynyk adds shooting and Robinson-Earl provides energy.
Center	Yves Missi	Karlo Matković	Kelly Olynyk	Missi continues developing as a defensive presence, with Matković as a solid backup.