With the New Orleans Pelicans selecting 7th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, new President of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars, has multiple different routes he can take with this pick. One option is to find a placeholder for Dejounte Murray, who will begin the season sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Another possibility is selecting a safe pick, someone who is a pure scorer, capable of generating offense and can start from day one or come off the bench. They could also just choose to completely swing for the fences and draft the highest-upside prospect available, regardless of his fit and NBA readiness.
So, let's take a look at a prospect that fits each of these potential paths.
Jeremiah Fears, G - Oklahoma: 17.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.1 APG
Jeremiah Fears is a crafty, explosive young guard out of Oklahoma who has shown he knows how to run an offense. This past season, Fears led Oklahoma to a top-nine seed in the NCAA Tournament, where his team matched up with the UConn Huskies. Despite them losing that game, Fears had an extremely strong showing against one of the toughest defenses in the country. He finished with 20 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 4 assists, and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
In that game, his ability to score at all three levels was on full display. Whether attacking the basket through traffic, knocking down big-time three-pointers, or pulling up from mid-range, Fears showed the complete offensive package. It was a reflection of what he had been doing all season.
When it comes to playmaking, Fears generally makes the right reads, but he still tends to commit some careless turnovers. He averaged 3.4 turnovers per game this year, which is an area he’ll need to improve. However, considering he was the lone major threat on that Sooners team, opposing defenses often keyed in on him, making his job even tougher.
With Dejounte Murray expected to miss time at the start of next season due to the Achilles tear he suffered on January 31 against Boston, Fears could step in as a starter early on for the Pelicans while they await Murray’s return. He also offers long-term upside as a potential successor at the guard position, giving the franchise a young piece to build around for the future.
Kon Knueppel, G/F - Duke: 14.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.7 APG
Kon Knueppel is easily one of the most polished freshman players I’ve seen. His silky smooth jump shot and textbook shooting mechanics, combined with elite basketball IQ, excellent footwork, and the ability to score from anywhere on the court, make him an ideal fit for the Pelicans at pick 7.
Last year at Duke, Knueppel was arguably the best shooting guard in college basketball, largely due to his efficiency. Every time he touched the ball, he made it count. Whether it was driving to the rim, coming off a screen, creating his own shot, or using his footwork to get a cleaner look, he did it with purpose and control. Knueppel is also a highly capable passer. His 2.7 assists per game compared to just 1.4 turnovers is an encouraging sign that he is a smart passer and that he can further develop that skill at the NBA level.
The biggest criticism of Knueppel is that he lacks top-tier athleticism. My counterpoint is this: when you're playing alongside an athletic force like Zion Williamson, and elite defenders and athletes like Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, and Dejounte Murray, you don’t need to be the fastest or most explosive guy on the floor, you just need to play your game, and Kon does that exceptionally well.
If there’s one area where he could improve, it's on the defensive end. He needs to work on his lateral quickness and ability to change direction more effectively. Still, this kid is one of the most underrated players in the draft and could carve out a similar NBA role to someone like Desmond Bane.
Khaman Maluach, C - Duke: 8.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 0.5 APG
If Duke big man Khaman Maluach makes it past the Wizards, who may look to take a center at pick 6, the Pels would be over the moon. The 18-year-old, 7'2 center is one of the highest-upside players in the draft. With the great season rookie big man Yves Missi just had, some fans may be opposed to spending the 7th pick on another big man. But passing on Maluach's potential would be hard.
The Duke freshman anchored one of the best defenses in college basketball last season. His NBA Combine measurements were eye-popping: a 7'6" wingspan and a 9'6" standing reach. These physical tools helped him become a dominant paint presence and elite shot blocker, averaging 1.3 blocks per game. Even when he isn’t recording blocks, he consistently alters shots and forces opponents to rethink their approach around the rim.
From a scoring point of view, the South Sudan native has shown promise as a threat in the pick and roll, being a guy who can jump up and catch a lob. While his outside shooting is nothing special there is a ton of promise, his 76.6% free-throw shooting suggests there’s potential for growth. Maluach has has a ton of the same physical tools and long-term upside that Joel Embiid had coming into the NBA. Making him a potential home run pick at 7th overall.