The New Orleans Pelicans are set to pick 21st in the upcoming NBA Draft, a position solidified following the NBA Draft Lottery. This year’s draft order brought some surprises, notably with the Atlanta Hawks securing the first overall pick. The Hawks had earlier negotiations with the Pelicans focused on a trade involving forward Herb Jones, which ultimately fell through due to Atlanta’s insistence on his inclusion.
#Pelicans also got a lottery pick from the 2019 trade with the Lakers only three years later, when LA missed the 2022 playoffs (was Dyson Daniels). It is more difficult to predict a team’s future 3-4 years out than we (media/fans) often think https://t.co/CubQaqkCQ9
The 21st pick for the Pelicans comes as part of a strategic move from a previous deal involving Jrue Holiday with the Milwaukee Bucks, where New Orleans gained the right to swap first-round picks for 2024. Both the Bucks and the Pelicans ended the season with identical records of 49-33, alongside the Phoenix Suns. However, due to the Bucks winning a tiebreaker, they were initially set to pick at No. 21. The swap rights were exercised by New Orleans, bumping them up from the 23rd to the 21st spot. Additionally, the Pelicans hold potential leverage with the Lakers’ 17th pick, which they can either claim this year or opt for an unprotected first-round pick in 2025.
As the draft approaches, the Pelicans face crucial decisions regarding their roster composition. The need for a point guard and a center is evident, and with cap constraints, trading the pick for a seasoned veteran could be on the table. Such decisions will shape the team’s strategy as they aim to build a competitive squad for the upcoming seasons.
Here’s the complete order for the first and second rounds of the NBA 2024 Draft:
Round
Pick
Team
1
1
Atlanta
1
2
Washington
1
3
Houston (from Brooklyn)
1
4
San Antonio
1
5
Detroit
1
6
Charlotte
1
7
Portland
1
8
San Antonio (from Toronto)
1
9
Memphis
1
10
Utah
1
11
Chicago
1
12
Oklahoma City (from Houston)
1
13
Sacramento
1
14
Portland (from Golden State via Boston and Memphis)
1
15
Miami
1
16
Philadelphia
1
17
Los Angeles Lakers1
1
18
Orlando
1
19
Toronto (from Indiana)
1
20
Cleveland
1
21
New Orleans (from Milwaukee)
1
22
Phoenix
1
23
Milwaukee (from New Orleans)
1
24
New York (from Dallas)
1
25
New York
1
26
Washington (from LA Clippers via Dallas and Oklahoma City)
1
27
Minnesota
1
28
Denver
1
29
Utah (from Oklahoma City via Toronto and Indiana)
1
30
Boston
2
31
Toronto (from Detroit via New York and LA Clippers)
2
32
Utah (from Washington via Detroit and Brooklyn)
2
33/34
Milwaukee (from Portland via Sacramento)
2
33/34
Portland (from Charlotte via Denver, Oklahoma City and New Orleans)
