Following their abysmal 2024-25 NBA season, the New Orleans Pelicans were left without an identity. Through the litany of injuries they suffered and their resulting 21-61 record, the franchise knew that they'd have to change some things going forward. Before last year's trade deadline, the Pels finally pulled the trigger on the inevitable Brandon Ingram deal that they had put off for far too long, but that wasn't enough.
The Pelicans officially made it known that they were ready to shake things up by firing their former president of basketball operations, David Griffin, and replacing him with former Detroit Pistons executive Joe Dumars. He's wasted no time at the helm for New Orleans, moving quickly to usher in his own staff and making the first moves of his tenure.
He began his reign by making a deal with the Indiana Pacers mid-Finals, giving them the rights to their 2026 first-round pick back in exchange for the 23rd-overall selection in this upcoming draft. But he wasn't done there. He followed that up with a blockbuster, sending CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards to acquire Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the 40th selection in 2025.
This latest trade is the first real indicator of Dumars' vision for his iteration of the Pelicans. There are almost certainly more dominoes to fall following this deal, including what New Orleans will end up doing in the 2025 NBA Draft. In fact, their new personnel after the acquisition of Jordan Poole might just spell out who they're going to draft with the seventh-overall pick.
Khaman Maluach has to be the Pelicans' target with the seventh pick following the Jordan Poole trade
Before the Pelicans' latest trade, New Orleans had a pretty promising roster. Between Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, and the newly ascended Trey Murphy III, they had a strong core that could compete with nearly any team in the league on a night-to-night basis. But, there was one glaring hole in the roster, one that carried over from last season: center.
That need was only exacerbated after the Pels sent out Kelly Olynyk in the deal without getting another big man back. Jordan Poole will be able to fill CJ McCollum's roles as a shooter, microwave scorer, and secondary playmaker, and Saddiq Bey's presence will buoy New Orleans' wing depth, but they're now left with Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic as their only viable centers.
Dumars could address this hole via free agency or another trade, but this deal may have just given the Pelicans the perfect convergence of both need and talent in the 2025 NBA Draft. At seven, there's a strong chance that Duke's Khaman Maluach will still be available.
At 7'1, 252-lbs with blue-blood pedigree, Maluach has the physical tools and experience needed to contribute to winning NBA basketball from day one. His massive frame and defensive presence will be a perfect foil and complement for Yves Missi's boundless energy and relentless athleticism, forming a one-two punch at center that will be difficult to contend with for any opponent.
Maluach might fit an immediate need, but he's not just a safe pick either. Along with his jaw-dropping size and defensive instincts, he displayed the quick-twitch athleticism, agility, and touch necessary to blossom into an all-around star one day, even flashing some perimeter shooting and playmaking in his time at Duke and for South Sudan's international team.
ESPN's mock draft had the Pelicans scooping up Tre Johnson at seven after a brief unexpected drop for the former Texas Longhorn, which would be a thrilling result for New Orleans and its fans, but, after the Jordan Poole trade, Khaman Maluach is simply too perfect a fit and prospect for them to pass up on.