The NBA Draft Combine has come and now we are barreling towards the draft. Players are moving up and down draft boards, others are withdrawing from the draft and returning to college. I want to provide three more options for the New Orleans Pelicans to explore at number 7. These options can be strong options for the future of the Pelicans.
I’ve discussed Kon Knueppel, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Khaman Malauch previously. Now I have a point guard, another center, and an idea to share.
Jeremiah Fears, Point Guard, Oklahoma, Freshman
The general consensus surrounding the Pelicans is a move at point guard needs to be made. CJ McCollum has not panned out and Dejounte Murray only played 31 games before missing the rest of the season with a Achilles injury. Looking at the guard options in the draft, there are good options. Enter Jeremiah Fears.
The SEC All-Freshman led the Sooners in points (17.1) and assists (4.1) as the they made it to the NCAA Tournament, losing in the first round to UConn. A good shooter at all three levels, he boasted a good 43.4% from the field and a solid 28.4% from three. He will need to be more consistent from deep at the NBA level and bring his percentage up. A good defender for his size, he had 1.4 steals per game and could be a good defensive combo with Murray.
If he brings his work ethic with him to New Orleans, he has the potential to be the leader of the offense and take the Pelicans to a the next level. Even if they move him to shooting guard next to Murray, his abilities can bring stability to the guard position for the Pelicans rotation.
Derik Queen, Center, Maryland, Freshman
Last time we discussed Khaman Malauch being a defensive-minded center who will need to grow on the offensive end, now we will discuss an offensive-minded center who will need to grow on the defensive end: Derik Queen. The Big 10 Rookie of the Year averaged 16.5 points, 9 rebounds, 1.9 assists on 52.6% shooting and 20% from beyond the arc. More offensively present than Malauch, he will need to work on his consistency as he had six games with single-digit points, and eleven total games with 15 points or lower.
Averaging 1.1 blocks and steals per game, he will have to improve his defensive abilities as he had eleven games with zero blocks and thirteen games with zero steals. At 6’10”, he will have to improve his paint presence to be try and grow into being a NBA anchor. With defense being a problem for the New Orleans Pelicans, he will have to come in and show the ability to learn and grow to help the Pelicans where they need it.
Trade the Pick
If the Pelicans decide that they should run the 2025-26 season with the same core and look towards free agency, trading 7 may be the best option. Adding another star to the mix could propel the Pelicans into playoff contention and may finally provide the spark for Zion Williamson‘s career.
The biggest trade target in the NBA is former MVP Giannas Antetokounmpo. While he hasn’t demanded a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks, many believe it is a matter of time. Giannas would be a tough trade to pull off but it wouldn’t be the smart trade for New Orleans. It would be tough to pair him next to Zion, as one of them would have to move to center if they were going to play next to each other. It would also cost considerable draft compensation and it would not be worth giving up a lot of the Pelicans’ future for brief potential success.
Another idea was posited by Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman: Trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, Jordan Hawkins, Number 7 overall, a 2027 first-round pick swap (Via MIL), and a 2029 first-round pick (top-three protected) to the Phoenix Suns for one Kevin Durant.
KD averaged 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.2 per game on 52.7% shooting and 43% from three. His offense would be an instant improvement to the Pelicans and can still provide solid defense with 1.2 blocks per game. He would also take pressure off of Zion as they can split the offensive load. It would take pressure off of KD to not have to contend, given New Orleans’ general perception, and it would give a boost to the Pelicans’ playoff hopes in the future. Overall, it would be a good move for New Orleans without giving up too much future draft compensation.
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