The New Orleans Pelicans have four picks in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, so they are going to be busy.
It’s unlikely that they would use all four of them, although there is some argument that they should just take four shooters in the second round and see if one of them sticks.
Another option is to try and package all four picks to move up to the top of the round or maybe even into the end of the first round.
The Pelicans currently have the 35th, 38th, 43rd and 53rd picks in the second round, so they do have some ammunition there to go along with all of their future picks.
Teams like the Thunder and Rockets might be willing to part with a later first-round pick to add more draft assets to their rebuilding rosters.
If the Pelicans were to try and move up, there are a number of guys who might be worth it. Here are three players the Pelicans should consider trading into the first round to get.
Pelicans draft picks: NBA Draft prospect Jaden Springer
Springer is a combo guard out of Tennessee who is usually mocked outside the lottery towards the end of the first round.
He ticks a lot of the boxes for what the Pelicans need, as he is already a very good defender and 3-point shooter who profiles as a guy who will improve even more in those areas.
He’s a good rebounder for his position, swiped 1.2 steals per game and shot 43 percent from 3-point range albeit on a low number of attempts.
He is the type of 3-and-D guard that the Pelicans need to add around Zion Williamson and if he is there at the end of the first round, the Pelicans should consider trying to trade up.