The New Orleans Pelicans will try to add impact talent with the 13th pick.
The Lottery Gods did not smile on the New Orleans Pelicans two years in a row and they stayed in their draft slot with the 13th pick.
The first six picks in the lottery went as planned, as every team stayed in its pre-lottery position. The Knicks and Pistons were the big losers of the night, as they both moved down. These two franchises seem doomed and never have any draft luck.
The big winners were Charlotte and Chicago, who moved up to the third and fourth pick, respectively.
The rich got richer as the Golden State Warriors got the number two pick, which is something to keep an eye on, as they are very likely to trade it if they find a deal they like.
In fact, there is no consensus about what any of these teams will do, which is what makes the 2020 NBA Draft such a crapshoot.
With little time to scout players and no postseason to watch, teams are going to be relying on little tape and a whole lot of faith.
This is a good thing for the New Orleans Pelicans, as they are just as likely to get an impact talent with the 13th pick as they might if they were choosing in the top-five.
There is also a chance that the Pelicans will decide to trade up in this draft to grab the guy they like and balance their roster, or they could even trade out of this draft altogether, which may not be a bad idea given the uncertainty and perceived lack of talent.
For now, we’ll assume every team takes their pick and there are no trades, though that is extremely unlikely.
Here is your post-lottery 2020 NBA Mock Draft.