The New Orleans Pelicans have a lot riding on the 2025 NBA Draft. Coming into this season, they had great expectations to make a deep playoff run and maybe even present themselves as dark-horse title contenders. After all, they were just coming off of the healthiest season of Zion Williamson's career after he played in 72 regular season games in 2023-24. They also added All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray at the top of the summer.
With Murray in tow alongside a roster already featuring heavy-hitters like Zion, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum, it made sense why New Orleans would have lofty aspirations for this year. Unfortunately, early injuries spoiled their plans completely. Now, they're actively competing for lottery odds rather than jostling for playoff positioning.
The Pelicans were essentially eliminated from postseason contention just a few weeks into the season. From that point on, it was clear that their 2025 first-round pick would be crucial in deciding the fate of this franchise. With a loaded incoming rookie class, nabbing a blue-chip prospect like Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper could not only make New Orleans real contenders as early as next season, but it could set them up to compete for the next decade. With such a deep crop of talent set to declare for the draft this summer, the Pelicans are extremely fortunate to also have the Milwaukee Bucks' first-round selection — except they actually don't.
Why the New Orleans Pelicans won't get the Milwaukee Bucks 2025 first-round pick
Technically, the Pelicans still do have part ownership of the Milwaukee Bucks' 2025 first-round selection. With players like Ben Saraf out of Germany and Michigan's Danny Wolf expected to be available towards the end of the first round, having another selection this year could have done wonders for New Orleans' pool of young talent and their depth moving forward. Unfortunately, they only own the Bucks' pick in technicality.
That's because the selection would only convey to the Pelicans if it landed in the top four. Considering that Milwaukee is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference at 36-28 and are 14 games ahead of the 11th-seed Toronto Raptors, they probably won't be missing the playoffs this season. They haven't clinched yet and anything is possible, but it's best to assume that New Orleans won't be getting the Bucks' pick.
For those wondering how the Pels got to this predicament, it's not exactly a short story or one that's easy to follow. They initially got the pick from Milwaukee as part of the Jrue Holiday trade. Then, back in 2022, New Orleans traded with the Portland Trail Blazers for CJ McCollum. The Bucks' 2025 selection wasn't supposed to be a part of that deal. However, the Pelicans had sent the Blazers their lottery-protected first-round pick in 2022, except they ended up making the playoffs that year. Because that 2022 selection didn't convey to Portland, they instead got the Bucks' 2025 first-rounder.
From there, the pick went to the Detroit Pistons as part of the trade that brought Jerami Grant to the Blazers. Then, Detroit sent the pick to the New York Knicks in a three-team draft-night deal with the Charlotte Hornets. Finally, the selection ultimately landed with the Brooklyn Nets as part of the massive blockbuster swap that sent Mikal Bridges across boroughs.
By way of the protections, the Pelicans technically retain the pick if it lands in the top four. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem like a possibility anymore. Furthermore, if — or when — the selection doesn't convey to New Orleans, Milwaukee's debt to the Pelicans will be absolved. So, the New Orleans Pelicans will only have one first-round pick this season, despite what other sources may say. Let's hope it turns out to be a good one.