The New Orleans Pelicans were an absolute nightmare last season. The goal this summer was to bounce back and retool.
The Pelicans had the seventh pick in the draft, and they used it on Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears. Fears is one of the more electric players in this year’s draft, and he fills New Orleans’ need for a long-term floor general. He’s got a crafty handle, is a creative finisher around the rim, and has great court vision.
The Pelicans then traded back into the lottery to select Maryland big man Derik Queen. Queen has a smooth offensive game and has the potential to be an offensive hub at the next level. He is a high-IQ big man, who operates in the mid-range and post areas. He needs to work on his defense, but he is a high-upside pick.
The bottom line is that New Orleans picked great players. The problem is what they traded to get those players. The Pelicans gave up their 2026 first-round pick next year to the Hawks when they traded up for Queen.
The New Orleans Pelicans made a huge mistake giving up their pick
New Orleans was already reeling from the Dejounte Murray trade, where they gave up Dyson Daniels and two first-round picks to Atlanta. Daniels enjoyed the best season of his career, and was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. Combine that misstep with giving up an unprotected first for Queen, and the Pelicans have managed their assets extremely poorly.
The West is projected to be a bloodbath next season. Outside of the Utah Jazz, every team will likely be in the playoff/play-in mix. New Orleans will be in the mix, but they are closer to the play-in than they are to the playoffs. There is no guarantee that they are a playoff team this season, especially given the 50/50 chance that Zion Williamson is healthy for a full year.
As for the Hawks, the East is wide open. The Celtics and Pacers don’t have their star players. The Cavs and Knicks are at the top, but they both have their flaws. The Magic and Pistons are on the come-up but have to prove themselves as contenders.
Atlanta is coming off an amazing offseason that saw them add Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kristaps Porzingis. Combine that with the return of Jalen Johnson, who was playing at an All-Star level, and the Hawks are suddenly a dark horse in the East.
The Pelicans may find themselves in another nightmare scenario
It is entirely possible (and likely) that the Pelicans gave up a lottery pick next year. They could be full-on rebuilding next year and not have a premium pick to jumpstart it. New Orleans does have great young players like Fears and Queen, and Jones, Murphy, and Williamson are one of the more underrated trios in the league.
The question is can they stay healthy? Williamson is a wildcard, Queen is already out with a wrist injury, and both Murphy and Jones missed significant time last season. Combine the injury risk and the fact that they don’t have their first-round pick, and the Pelicans could find themselves in the cellar once again if things go poorly this year.
