A few ways that the New Orleans Pelicans could end up back in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft.
With just under two weeks until the 2026 NBA draft, the current big story following the New Orleans Pelicans is a potential trade into the lottery. While it's currently just rumors, it makes sense for this front office.
This is an aggressive pair in Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver, who will always get active around the draft. That aggression last year led them to trade this year's first to draft Derik Queen.
Now, instead of picking at No. 8, they must consider making a big trade to get back into the lottery in an interesting class of prospects. Here are a couple of options in front of Dumars and Weaver if they want to get back into the first:
1. Trading Trey Murphy III
This would be the easiest way to guarantee getting a top pick back in this class, as many teams in the lottery would be willing to put together pick packages for Murphy that also included future assets. The problem with that, though, is that it would mean trading Murphy.
As of the latest reports, New Orleans would only be willing to move off of Murphy for a player that makes them better (i.e., Jaylen Brown) immediately. There are many fewer guarantees that they will get someone of Murphy's caliber with draft picks.
The best-case scenario for the Pelicans is to get back into the lottery and grab another critical piece to pair next to Murphy, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears for the long run.
2. Trading Herbert Jones
Given their current assets, they'll likely need to trade a player to get back into the draft. The one that makes the most sense is Jones. He has more value than guys like Dejounte Murray or Jordan Poole, but is also slightly more expendable than Murphy in the long-term plans.
The 27-year-old is a fan favorite and is a crucial piece to winning basketball. The team was far worse last season when he wasn't on the court.
It does seem like Jones is the perfect player for Jamahl Mosley's system, as he's all about getting things done on the defensive side first. However, his offensive output is unreliable and is more outside of the future timeline that Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears provide than even Murphy or Zion Williamson.
New Orleans would be well off keeping Jones for next season, but if they really want to go after a lottery pick, then they'll likely have to part ways with him.
3. Getting Creative With Players + Future Assets
Even the Queen trade last year wasn't as simple as just trading a first-round pick and a future pick to move up. The 2025 pick they used in the trade is one they got from making a few other moves. Don't count out Weaver and Dumars making a couple of moves that ends up with them picking in the lottery.
This would mean trading the guys that they want to move on from Poole or Murray, or even someone that teams actually want like Yves Missi and then pairing that with future draft picks. Everyone knows that this front office is not afraid to leverage future picks for players they like.
