The New Orleans Pelicans’ front office has made some questionable decisions in recent years, but their recent draft week maneuvering may end up as one of their worst stretches yet. New Orleans previously had the Indiana Pacers’ first-round pick, which they could have held as a long-term asset.
Instead, they chose to flip that same pick back to the Pacers in a deal that allowed them to move up in the draft and select University of Maryland big man Derik Queen. The player himself may turn out fine, but the broader context surrounding this decision is where things get troubling for the Pelicans.
The Pacers received their own 2026 first-round pick back, which is a pick that could become incredibly valuable. Indiana may have a down season next year with Tyrese Haliburton potentially missing the entire season. If that 2026 pick ends up in the lottery, the Pelicans will have essentially handed away a golden ticket.
This is not the first time the Pelicans have made a mistake of this magnitude. There is a growing list of shortsighted trades and underwhelming returns that suggest a troubling trend. From holding on too long to certain veterans to making trades for band-aid solutions, the Pelicans keep misjudging the market.
This time, they did not even need to do anything drastic. They had the high ground with the Pacers’ pick. But they gave it back, for what might be a moderate upgrade on draft night at best.
The Pelicans' mistakes could cost them
Queen may eventually become a rotation player. He has the strength and skill set to potentially make an impact. But his selection does not justify giving up the rights to what could have been a top-10 pick in 2026. If the Pelicans had held on to the pick and Indiana struggled next season, New Orleans could have had a potential foundational piece on a rookie contract. In today’s NBA, those are the most valuable assets a team like the Pelicans can acquire.
It is not even clear what direction New Orleans is heading in anymore. They are stuck between building around Zion Williamson and hitting a full reset. Brandon Ingram is already gone, and their future flexibility just took another hit because they could not resist the temptation to make this move.
Every front office makes mistakes, but the Pelicans are compiling a series of them. Each misfire chips away at their ability to remain competitive in a stacked Western Conference. The team is not deep enough or healthy enough to justify these kinds of moves.
Giving away a potential lottery pick to chase a minor upgrade might be the kind of decision that ends up defining this era of Pelicans basketball. Unfortunately for the fanbase, that definition may not be a positive one.