New Orleans Pelicans Trade for a Second Pick in the First Round of the NBA Draft

Well, the New Orleans Pelicans making moves before the NBA Draft was one of the worst kept secrets in the NBA world. The only real question was always 'how big' of a move would they make. Now, we either have that answer, or an indication of something bigger brewing.

Pelicans Make Pre-Draft Splash, Acquire Another First-Round Pick

The Pelicans have executed a trade with the Indiana Pacers today, to add another first round draft pick to the Pels arsenal for this year. ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news

The trade didn't just include a pick for this year's draft, the Pels got a player too.

Pelicans Land 23rd Pick in Pre-Draft Trade

According to reports, the whole deal sees the Pelicans send a 2026 first round draft pick to Indiana in exchange for this year's 23rd overall draft pick, and the rights to Mojave King. Interestingly, the 2026 pick that the Pacers are getting from New Orleans is the pick that Indiana originally owned.

The Curious Journey of the 2026 First-Round Pick

Indiana had traded their 2026 first round pick to the Toronto Raptors in a deal that brought Pascal Siakam to the Pacers. Good deal for Indiana, as Siakam has helped the team get to the NBA Finals this year.

The Raptors then sent Indiana's first round pick to New Orleans in the Brandon Ingram trade. So the pick went Indiana-Toronto, Toronto-New Orleans, New Orleans-Indiana. Which might be where it stays, but its the NBA, so there's no telling.

Who is Mojave King? The Other Piece of the Trade

The other piece the Pelicans got from Indiana is the rights to Mojave King. Its officially "the rights to", because King didn't sign an NBA contract after being selected in the 2023 NBA draft. He was taken that year by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 47th overall pick. King has played in 45 NBA G League games, but currently plays for the New Zealand basketball league.

What This Means for the Pelicans' NBA Draft Strategy

Really, the centerpiece of this deal for New Orleans was the 23rd overall pick in this year's NBA Draft first round. This now pairs with the Pelican's existing pick, which is the 7th overall. Giving the Pelicans 2 of the top 25 picks in this year's NBA Draft.

Now we will find out if the Pelicans want to add two players to their roster with those picks, or if they're going to package something together to go for a big name player, or to try and move up into the top 5 picks. If they are seriously entertaining a Zion Williamson trade, having a first round pick you can swap with someone to move up without harming your 7th overall pick, could really work out.