The New Orleans Pelicans originally acquired the Indiana Pacers' first-round pick in 2026 as part of the Brandon Ingram trade with the Toronto Raptors. Fans expected to wait a full year to see their final return, but that changed on Wednesday. Joe Dumars flipped the 2026 pick back to Indiana in exchange for the No. 23 pick in this year’s draft, accelerating the payoff.
Many suggest this payoff could come in the form of a trade for a top-three pick, but I believe it should come in the form of a National Championship-winning guard. Heading into the 2025- 26 season, the Pelicans have a glaring hole at point guard. Dejounte Murray suffered an Achilles tear this January and is expected to be sidelined to start the season.
This is exactly why New Orleans should resist the urge to trade up and instead stand pat by selecting Walter Clayton Jr. at pick 23. Last year, there was no bigger name in college basketball than Clayton Jr. His elite shot-making and range helped him lead Florida to its first national title since 2007.
With New Orleans severely struggling with shooting last season, ranking in the bottom 5 in attempts and makes, bringing in Clayton would be the ultimate fix. He shot a stellar 38.6% from three on 7.8 attempts per game, proving himself as one of the top shooters in the draft.
Outside of being a great shooter, Clayton brings a well-rounded game for a 6'2" guard. He posted averages of 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, and shot an efficient 44.8% from the field.
Clayton Jr. could come in and be the short-term and long-term answer at point guard
At 22 years old, he's mature enough to contribute from day one for the Pelicans. His on-court leadership was crucial to the Gators' title run, something he could replicate in NOLA.
Clayton has all the makings of a lottery-level prospect: elite scoring, leadership, clutch shot-making, sharp footwork, and a tight handle. The only reason he is projected lower is due to concerns about size (just 6'2") and his age, which is why he is lower on some teams' boards.
Another unique trait Clayton Jr. has is his ability to adjust his playstyle mid-game. He isn't an elite distributor like Trae Young or Tyrese Haliburton, but when his shot isn't falling, he can shift into a pass-first role. For example, in the National Championship game, his shot wasn't falling, and he ended up shooting 3-for-10 on the day, but he found a way to still impact the game, dishing out seven assists.
While the ability to adjust might not sound too uncommon, it often is for first-round picks. Many rookies struggle to impact the game when their primary skill isn’t working. Clayton doesn’t.
This adaptability would help him fit in perfectly with the Pelicans. To start the season, he would likely be the starting point guard, but when Murray returns, he could slide into a secondary role off the bench
Trading up in the draft may provide more upside, but the Pelicans don't need upside; they need results, which are all Walter Clayton Jr. knows how to produce.