The New Orleans Pelicans could end up with a top pick in the 2026 NBA draft, regardless of how they perform, so they should explore the best talent available. One player stands out as a potential fit.
The New Orleans Pelicans are winding up a frustrating offseason that hasn't seen much movement. They couldn't get back into the first round of the draft at a reasonable price and didn't end up selecting until No. 58.
Their plan, despite the inaction that has currently defined the last few months, is to compete for the playoffs. If that comes to fruition, it would normally mean another year of missing out on the fun at the top of the draft. This season, though, the Pelicans could still end up with a top pick thanks to the Milwaukee Bucks.
With the Bucks going into a full-on rebuild and New Orleans still possibly missing the postseason, there is a good chance that the Pelicans are drafting early on in the 2027 NBA draft. While it isn't as top-heavy of a class as recent years, there are still intriguing players. There is one specific name that stands out as a potential perfect fit for New Orleans.
Caleb Holt is a freshman guard for the Arizona Wildcats who is expected to take over as one of the stars of a top-10 team and be a leader on both sides of the ball. He projects as a fantastic two-way wing in the NBA if his measurements show a positive wingspan. He'll get a chance to show off his defensive potential in a lot of important games throughout this college season.
In a draft without a superstar player like Cooper Flagg or Victor Wembanyama, teams need to find the right tools and the right fit for their roster. While the Pelicans want to compete and continue to complement the core of Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy for the time being, they have two impressive young players in Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, who could be the true future of the franchise.
If New Orleans continues the expected pivot to those young players, Holt could be a long-term partner with both of those stars if his freshman season looks like it is expected to.
Holt is a fantastic athlete who could shoot the ball with impressive range, pass the ball and always played with a high motor in high school. These are the exact things that this roster needs out of a wing right now. If they end up with a top pick, they could find a decade-long answer.
The lottery odds are going to cause a lot of chaos this year, so just having a shot at the top is more important than any specific finish. Early simulations have a lot of variance, but the Pelicans are frequently in the top four thanks to Milwaukee.
