No. 2: New Orleans Pelicans
Odds of obtaining the no. 1 pick: 1.1%. Pick goes to Sacramento if it’s outside the top 3.
Likely no. 1 pick: Josh Jackson – will present theory shortly
Because they traded for Boogie Cousins, the Pelicans only had to give up this year’s pick, Buddy Hield and Tyreke Evans. However, if they keep their pick, every NBA GM will sweat profusely.
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Throw in a top-three pick with Cousins and Anthony Davis, and you have a perennial playoff contender. That’s if Cousins doesn’t do Boogie things and Anthony Davis stays healthy. If they keep their pick, they have three options:
- Draft Lonzo Ball, De’Aaron Fox or Markelle Fultz. Then, let Jrue Holiday walk for the sake of depth.
- Trade the pick to land a guy like Jimmy Butler and Paul George, forming one of the scariest three-headed monsters in basketball.
- (SPOILER: This is the theory) Draft a wing like Josh Jackson or Jayson Tatum. Because they keep the pick, New Orleans have the cap space to sign … CHRIS PAUL (or Kyle Lowry).
Even if the Pelicans don’t acquire a lottery pick, they’ll still pose a threat to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Davis-Cousins duo is deadly for any team in the league. However, if they do get their pick back, the Grizzlies will have a difficult time outlasting them.