The Pelicans have decided to delay the Lakers’ first-round pick until 2025, a source informed Christian Clark of The Times-Picayune, with confirmation from ESPN and HoopsHype. They have until Saturday at 10:59 pm CT to formally notify the NBA, and it’s likely they’ll wait until the last day to do so.
This decision follows earlier indications from Clark that the Pelicans were leaning towards deferring the pick, which is the 17th overall in the 2024 NBA draft. With this move, the Lakers will gain control of the selection. They will also gain the ability to trade their first-round picks for 2029 and 2031 once the new league year commences on July 1.
According to cap expert Yossi Gozlan, deferring the pick was seen as the most sensible choice for New Orleans, given their current circumstances. By pushing the pick back a year, they can eliminate a $3.8M cap hold from their financial records, a significant relief given their financial constraints.
This 2025 first-rounder from the Lakers completes the outgoing pieces of the Anthony Davis trade in 2019. There’s potential for it to be a lottery selection in a stronger draft class if the Lakers struggle next season. Currently, the Lakers finished the season with a 47-35 record, entering the playoffs as the 7th seed in the West and getting eliminated in the first round by the Nuggets, the defending champions.
Alongside the 2025 first-round pick from the Lakers, the Pelicans also have control over Milwaukee’s 2027 first-round pick from the Jrue Holiday trade, as well as all of their own future first-round picks.
Leave a Reply