{"id":44658,"date":"2025-06-12T16:49:05","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T06:49:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/?p=44658"},"modified":"2025-06-12T16:49:06","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T06:49:06","slug":"2025-nba-draft-team-preview-new-orleans-pelicans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/2025-nba-draft-team-preview-new-orleans-pelicans\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 NBA Draft Team Preview – New Orleans Pelicans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE NEW Orleans Pelicans will be able to continue their roster revamp when they make another selection inside the top 10 at the 2025 NBA Draft in Chicago later this month, and will be able to add a key piece for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was another disappointing season from the Pelicans, who struggled to find any success with their previous core and traded star forward Brandon Ingram <\/strong>to the Toronto Raptors in a clear indication the team did not plan to contend this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, they fell to 14th in the Western Conference, struggling to manage key injuries to the likes of of CJ McCollum<\/strong>, Dejounte Murray <\/strong>and Zion Williamson<\/strong> and looking to the draft lottery instead in what is shaping up as a loaded draft class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now they will look to add a future star in the coming weeks, and while the rest of their roster could be on the trade block, their top-10 selection remains crucial for the team in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New Orleans Pelicans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Draft Selections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contracted Players<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, Kelly Olynyk, Trey Murphy III, Jordan Hawkins (team option), Yves Missi, Jose Alverado, Karlo Matkovic, Antonio Reeves (non-guaranteed), Brandon Boston Jr. (team option), Elfrid Payton (team option)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pelicans have had quite a few roster changes over the past decade, and that trend could continue over the off-season after another underwhelming season. However, their selection at the draft could prove formative in the coming years, and they will be eager to make the right call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming to mind immediately for the Pelicans could be Kon Knueppel<\/a>, given New Orleans’ roster may look very different in a few months’ time and he can fit onto just about any roster with his dynamic skillset and proven shotmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Duke Blue Devils<\/a> wing is a flat-out sharpshooter, showing the ability to nail shots from long range at a consistent rate, as well as from midrange and inside, and is a complimentary piece to ball-dominant players he shares the court with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kon Knueppel could be an immediate contributor for the Pelicans. Photo: via Duke Athletics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Pelicans could also look towards a long-term project given they are not in win-now mode, and that could come in the form of Khaman Maluach<\/a>, who is Knueppel’s teammate at Duke and is one of the best big men in the draft class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At just 19 years of age, his game is far from complete, and he will take plenty of developing at the top level, and New Orleans may be the team that can offer that. He has excellent defensive traits and plenty of offensive upside, and could be worth the investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, the Pelicans will be likely framing their future with their selection at the 2025 NBA Draft, and truly marking the start of a rebuild with a defining pick later this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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