With no draft picks in the 2026 NBA draft, the New Orleans Pelicans are in a completely different spot than the rest of the teams whose picks are projected to be in the top ten. When the Pelicans traded their 2026 first-round pick to Atlanta back on the night of the 2025 NBA draft as part of a trade-up for Derik Queen, it was widely viewed as a bad move.
That said, Queen has flashed a ton of potential this season and looks like someone the coaching staff can mold an offense around, thanks to his ability to act as an offensive hub for the team at 6-foot-9. Where he has struggled in his rookie season is on the defensive side of the ball and on the glass. Due to his athletic limitations and smaller stature for an NBA big, the Pelicans have been one of the worst rebounding and defensive teams in the league this season.
The team's struggles defensively and on the boards could be addressed by bringing in a short-term fix. However, given Queen's age, acquiring a draft pick to address this need would be a much smarter long-term move.
Why the Pelicans need draft capital to build around Derik Queen
The Pelicans should look to move on from players like Zion Williamson and Herb Jones with the hope of recouping draft capital in the 2026 draft. By bringing in some picks for the upcoming draft, the Pelicans could not only add young talent to their core but also cover up some of the holes in Queen's game.
Someone to highlight is Morez Johnson Jr., a dirty-work big man out of Michigan with a similar game to Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart. Johnson Jr. is a beast on the boards and just had a 16 point 16 rebound performance against Washington.
With him projected anywhere from the early 20s to the early second round, acquiring a pick to select him in this year’s draft wouldn’t be too difficult for the Pelicans’ front office.
If the Pelicans front office wants to truly see a return on the assets they gave up to acquire Queen, trading away one of Zion Williamson or Herb Jones to acquire a 2026 first-rounder is a must. Drafting a rebounding, defensive-minded center in the upcoming draft that can grow and develop alongside Queen is a smart play. To maximize Queen’s finesse-driven offensive style, he needs to be paired with a dominant paint presence in the frontcourt, and the smartest way to achieve that is through the draft.