The New Orleans Pelicans are the only team in the league's bottom-14 without some chance at a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Quick reminder, the Pelicans traded their first-round pick this season to the Hawks on draft night for the rights to Derik Queen. Around the trade deadline, we heard rumors that the Pelicans' top priority was to acquire a first-round pick in this summer's draft.
Although that didn't happen at the deadline, one Eastern Conference team could help make it a possibility this summer.
The Charlotte Hornets have been playing the best basketball in the league over the last two months and are now looking like a team no top seed out East wants to see in round one. For a Hornets franchise that, for the most part, has been a bottom-feeder for the last several seasons, this year has been a huge first step back to relevance.
With the Hornets projected to have two top-20 picks in this summer's class and plenty of matchable salaries, Charlotte and New Orleans could help one another out. The Hornets appear to be one or two pieces away from becoming a serious threat out East, and the Pelicans have those pieces.
The Hornets may hold the key to the Pelicans' draft problem
When looking at the Hornets' cap sheet this summer, they're in a spot where they have two expiring salaries in Grant Williams and Josh Green, which combine for just under $30 million. Pair that with one or both of their projected top 20 2026 first-round picks, and they could make something happen with the Pelicans.
The Hornets are an offense-first team, ranking as a top-five offense with a middle-of-the-pack defense, so what if they wanted a wing stopper? Herb Jones could be perfect. Jones is reaching veteran status, under contract for three more years, and, when healthy, is a top-five defender in the league. He would come in and give their high-powered offense something to lean on from the point of attack on the other end. This would also help Miles Bridges slot into a role better suited to him as a sixth man.
They could also go in a different direction by leaning into their offensive identity with the addition of Zion Williamson. Throwing Z into the mix would somehow make this team offense even more fun and give them just another scorer LaMelo Ball can spoon-feed.
Or what about an even more out-there one in Trey Murphy III, who would give them an upgrade defensively, while still maintaining that knockdown three-point shooting. Murphy III would undoubtedly be the most expensive option, but they have the assets to get there if they wanted to.
The point is, no matter if it's Murphy III, Jones, or Zion, the Pelicans have players who could help take Charlotte over the top. And the Hornets have exactly what the Pelicans need at this stage in their rebuild, which is two top 20 picks in a loaded 2026 NBA draft class.
If the Pelicans and Hornets don't make something happen this offseason, it would be a complete missed opportunity for both sides.