The Anthony Davis trade is the gift that keeps on giving to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pelicans still have two more picks (possibly) and a swap coming from the Lakers even though their upcoming draft status is complicated.
Currently, the Pels wouldn’t have a pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, as their pick would go to Portland from the CJ McCollum trade as long as it falls outside of the top four.
The pick they have coming from the Lakers will go to the Memphis Grizzlies unless it falls in the top-10, so there is still a chance that the Pels will end up with two first-round picks if the lottery balls bounce right.
The good news is that they are getting some help from the Los Angeles Lakers, who are in a free fall that may end up benefitting the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pelicans draft and the Lakers fall
If the Lakers pick does end up falling in the top-10, the Pels would keep it and only have to send a second-rounder to Memphis, so the Lakers’ demise doesn’t just help New Orleans in the standings, it helps them in the draft.
The Lakers are in the 9th position in the Western Conference, have only won three of their last 10 games and got booed off the floor by their home crowd last night after the Pelicans blew them out.
LeBron James was bickering with fans, the Lakers had no life, and if this continues, they could very well plummet out of play-in contention and into the top-10 of the NBA Draft.
There is a scenario where the Pelicans could make the play-in or even the playoffs and still own a top-10 draft pick in 2022 courtesy of the Lakers.
Pels’ fans don’t need any extra motivation to cheer against LA, but what could be better than the Pels making the playoffs and getting the Lakers pick anyway? Not much.