New Orleans Pelicans: Pros and Cons of Trading for the No. 1 Pick in the 2020 NBA Draft

Con of the New Orleans Pelicans trading for 1st Pick: The Unknowns

The NBA Draft is always a crapshoot, but this year is particularly risky.

With no consensus superstar and little time to scout and watch players, teams will be fumbling in the dark more than ever in the 2020 NBA Draft.

This means that the New Orleans Pelicans are just as likely to get their guy with the 12th or 13th pick as they are with the number one selection.

Guys like Devin Vassell, Saddiq Bey and Aaron Nesmith may end up being better than the players mocked to go ahead of them in the draft. Is anyone really that certain that LaMelo or Anthony Edwards are going to be good in the NBA?

There have been few years with more draft uncertainty, and some would argue this would be the year to trade down, not up, as the talent is so equal across the board that the difference between number one and 15 might be negligible.

This could be draft similar to 2013, when the best player, Giannis Antetokounmpo went 15th, while total bust Anthony Bennett went first.

There is no reason for the New Orleans Pelicans to risk draft capital and assets just because they have them. With the 12th or 13th pick the Pels could easily get a guy that would make the rotation, fill a hole and maybe even become an All-Star.

There is no Zion in this draft, there’s no Ja Morant and there may not even be an RJ Barrett level talent, so the Pelicans should just take their pick, sit on their assets and hope for the best.