According to Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the New Orleans Pelicans are deferring the Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick owed to the Pelicans to 2025.
ESPN Sources with @DraftExpress: The New Orleans Pelicans are planning to defer the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick until 2025, clearing the way for LA to select 17th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Pick conditions were part of the Anthony Davis trade in 2019.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 31, 2024
The Pelicans received the option to acquire the Lakers first round pick in either 2024 or 2025 in the Anthony Davis trade, and the Pelicans are choosing the latter option, opening the door for the Lakers to make a first round pick this year.
It is a prudent choice by the Pelicans. With LeBron James' future up in the air and the Lakers in search of a new coach after firing Darvin Ham, Los Angeles could potentially be in a rough spot come next draft season. The Pelicans are deferring the chance at picking #17 overall in what experts consider a "weak draft" for the chance to move up a couple of slots in a stronger draft next year.
The Pelicans will now only make one selection on draft night, barring any trades. The team owns the number 21 overall pick after agreeing to a swap with the Milwaukee Bucks. New Orleans will likely use that selection to bolster the roster around centerpiece Zion Williamson in the hopes of making it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in his career. Executive David Griffin has promised change to Pelicans fans, and his first crack at implementing change will be at June's annual NBA Draft.
Stay tuned to Pelican Debrief for wall-to-wall draft coverage as the Pelicans look to improve their roster for 2024-25.