New Orleans Pelicans: Should The Team Want A Top-4 Pick?

Should the New Orleans Pelicans want a Top-4 Pick in the 2020 Draft?

For the New Orleans Pelicans, tomorrow night’s 2020 NBA draft lottery could be another major step on the path to contention depending on how the ping-pong balls fall. Entering the lottery with the 13th worst record in the NBA, their chance of getting lucky for the second straight year in a row with the number 1 pick is only 1.2%.

Crazier things have happened though, especially if you’re someone who believes in frozen envelopes and commissioners atoning for the loss of superstars.

I’m not interested in the Pelicans getting the first overall pick though, especially not in this draft where there’s no clear cut superstar. What is interesting to me, and should interest other New Orleans fans is the 5.7% chance of the team landing in the top-4.

If miraculously, the lottery begins and the New Orleans Pelicans don’t hear their name called at pick 13 then that opens a whole new door of speculation and decision-making for the team. The real question becomes, should the New Orleans Pelicans want a top-4 pick?

The New Orleans Pelicans Case For Wanting A Top-4 Pick

The main reason the New Orleans Pelicans organization would be rooting for a top-4 pick has nothing to do with the player they could select at that position. Landing a pick in the top-4 gives the Pelicans options.

Last year, when the Pelicans had the 4th overall pick from the Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade, they used it to trade down in the draft. The number 4 pick ended up becoming picks 8 and 17 which resulted in the Pelicans adding Jaxson Hayes and Nickeil Alexander-Walker for more depth.

For a Pelicans team that is looking to find pieces that complement their roster of young stars having a high pick to trade down in a draft filled with high-end role players would be useful.

Also, a top-4 pick could help the New Orleans Pelicans if the organization ends up taking the unlikely route of attempting to trade for another superstar. Who knows, maybe Bradley Beal becomes available?

The Case Against A Top-4 Pick for the New Orleans Pelicans

I know it might sound ridiculous to think that a team would potentially not want a top-4 pick in the draft but here me out. If there’s ever been a draft shrouded with uncertainty, it’s this one.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s prospects don’t have nearly as much college tape than they have had in years past and it’s also going to be much more difficult to have a proper pre-draft process with any players.

This means there are two bad outcomes for the New Orleans Pelicans with a top-4 pick. First, the pick is far less valuable to trade because of all the uncertainty and how weak the draft is, and then secondly makes it harder for the Pelicans to find another star.

Rather than having a top-4 pick, maybe the Pelicans organization would feel much more comfortable staying at 13 in this year’s draft to add a plug-and-play role player to complement their stars rather than a player with potential who could mess with team chemistry.

The Verdict

Ultimately, the New Orleans Pelicans should want to take the risk of landing in the top-4 the options that could come from a higher pick are just too good to pass up. A top-4 pick would allow David Griffin and Trajan Langdon so much flexibility.

Will the team be able to land a high pick though? Well, Pelicans fans let’s all pray to the lottery gods and hope that somehow another lucky bounce comes our way.