With the NBA draft less than 10 days away, the rumor mill is running rampant, especially regarding what the Pelicans plan on doing with the 7th overall pick. One new development suggests that the Pels may trade down in this year's draft. With New Orleans using 11 of their 20 available pre-draft workout invites, there's a clear trend.
Outside of Derik Queen, everyone else on the list is a projected mid-first-round pick or a second-round talent. Among them are mid-to-late first-rounders like Will Riley, Asa Newell, Nique Clifford, and Egor Demin. All four players are expected to be picked anywhere from 15 to 30, which is intriguing, considering the Pels only have one selection in this year's draft, at No. 7.
While most rumors have linked the Pelicans to a trade-up for a top-three pick, a move down the board would be a complete curveball. However, based on their list of pre-draft invitees, a trade down may be on the horizon.
What could the Pelicans get for the No. 7 pick?
Looking around the league, there are two teams that really stand out as potential trade partners for the 7th overall pick.
The first is the Brooklyn Nets, who own four first-round picks in this year's draft. The Nets have made it clear that they would love to acquire a second lottery pick outside of their 8th overall pick. Brooklyn could package a combination of their 19th, 26th, and 27th selections to add another lottery selection.
They also have Cam Johnson, who they could include in a deal. Johnson would be an excellent addition to the Pelicans; his ability to shoot the ball is among the best in the league. He could be a considerable boost to a Pelicans team that struggled from deep last season. He shot 39.0% from deep on 7.2 attempts per game, making the Nets an especially intriguing partner if New Orleans is open to trading down.
Another possible suitor could be the Orlando Magic. They hold both picks 16 and 25. With Orlando in desperate need of some three-point shooting, if either Tre Johnson or Kon Knueppel is available at No. 7, they could aggressively pursue a deal with the Pelicans.
A package of Orlando's picks and Cole Anthony would be a strong return for the Pelicans, as it could help fill their starting point guard position heading into the 2025-26 season. With picks 16 and 25, they could address other needs like floor spacing and size.
Is a trade down worth it?
A trade down could be absolutely worth it, depending on the return. While the 7th overall pick has significant value and could help the Pels bring in a future franchise cornerstone, trading the pick for multiple assets could better serve the team's needs. Whether that return includes a reliable floor spacer while retaining a first-round pick, or a starting-caliber point guard along with multiple selections, the different avenues make a trade-down scenario very appealing.
For a team that dealt with as many injuries as it did last season, bringing in multiple first-round talents who can provide depth and fill multiple roles is a path that New Orleans needs to consider.