The New Orleans Pelicans have the fourth-highest odds of securing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Last time the Pelicans landed the top selection, they took former Duke Blue Devils superstar Zion Williamson, who has not panned out as most expected. He’s shown serious flashes of superstar potential but struggles to remain healthy on a year-to-year basis. This could lead New Orleans’ front office to majorly shake up their roster this offseason.
The Pelicans were surprisingly named as a trade destination for Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo by SN’s Stephen Noh.
“Every single franchise will be trying to put forth their best offer in order to grab the star. The Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Thunder, Magic, and Spurs stand out as the best-positioned teams to land him from an asset and fit perspective,” Noh wrote.
From an asset perspective, yes, New Orleans has plenty of different packages to offer Milwaukee, highlighted by either this year’s first-round pick or Williamson.
The fit Noh speaks of is where Antetokounmpo to the Pelicans becomes shaky.
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Let’s say the Pelicans offer a return centered around their pick, then Williamson and Antetokounmpo would be playing together. The two have near-identical styles of play, with a lack of ability to hit shots from the outside and a desire to attack the basket on a regular basis.
Sure, this tandem would produce a ridiculous number of highlight plays, but at what cost? The Pelicans would have one of the worst shooting lineups in the NBA in this scenario.
Alternatively, if Williamson were dealt to the Bucks, the Pelicans simply wouldn’t have enough star power to compete for a championship. While Bruce Brown, Jose Alvarado, Yves Missi, and Jordan Hawkins are solid rotational pieces, their roster is not one player away from title contention.
As much as acquiring a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber feels impossible to pass on, it’s likely in the Pelicans’ best interest to not pursue this blockbuster trade. For Antetokounmpo, he’s been loyal to the organization that believed in him since 2013, but it may be time to let go of that feeling and pursue rings elsewhere.
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