Be the GM: Guide the New Orleans Pelicans Through the 2020 NBA Draft

New Orleans Pelicans: Trading with Charlotte for the #3 Pick in the NBA Draft

Trading for the #3 Pick

This is a move you make if you don’t like the future for Jaxson Hayes at Center, want to free up some future cap space or really like someone still available at #3.

The Hornets would get a young, exciting center that fits with their core, get out from under Zeller’s contract and still get a lottery pick in the draft, so this trade might entice them.

The Pelicans would get a serviceable big man in Cody Zeller, who is overpaid, but only has one year left on his deal. He’d be good to pair with a young big and give the Pelicans some insurance.

The Pelicans would only do this if there was someone available at #3 who they like more than the combination of Jaxson Hayes and #13.

We’ll assume Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball were taken with the first two picks, which leaves the Pelicans with some interesting choices for bigs to replace Hayes and bolster their interior defense.

If you’d like to select James Wiseman with the third pick, click here.

If you’d like to select Onyeka Okongwu with the third pick, click here.