NEWSLETTER
The Pelicans were swept out of the first round in the 2024 NBA Playoffs by the Thunder after a rough stretch to end the season including an injury to Zion Williamson. Now, they move to the offseason and the draft. Let’s look at their 2024 NBA Draft picks, future selections, and more.
New Orleans 2024 NBA Draft Picks
The Pelicans currently have one pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and it is in the 20s of the first round. The pick was swapped with the Bucks. They could have taken the Lakers no. 17 overall pick but chose to defer the pick to 2025.
Pelicans Select No. 21 in Round 1
The Pelicans are sitting at number 21 in the first round and do not have a second-round selection in 2024. The team was bounced in the first round of the playoffs in a 4-0 sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder and needs to add more pieces if they want to take the next step.
They chose to defer the no. 17 overall pick from the Lakers to the 2025 draft.
Pelicans Future Draft Selections
Let’s look toward the future and see what selections the Pelicans have in future drafts. Check out some of their picks up to the year 2030. They have three first-round picks next year, but one is 5-30 protected which means they probably won’t get the pick unless the Bucks completely fall apart.
| Year | Round | From | Protections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | MIL | Protected 5-30 |
| 2025 | 1 | Own | |
| 2025 | 1 | LAL | |
| 2026 | 1 | Own | |
| 2026 | 1 | MIL | Swap Rights |
| 2027 | 1 | MIL | Unprotected |
| 2027 | 1 | Own | |
| 2028 | 1 | Own | |
| 2029 | 1 | Own | |
| 2030 | 1 | Own | |
| 2030 | 2 | Own |
How Many No. 1 Picks Have the Pelicans Had?
The Pelicans have had the number-one overall pick twice in franchise history. The most recent is 2019 when they drafted Zion Williamson out of Duke. In 2012, the Pelicans (then Hornets) drafted Anthony Davis number one overall out of Kentucky after he led the Wildcats to the National Championship.
Davis played 7 seasons in New Orleans before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he won a title with LeBron James in 2020. Davis averaged 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds in his time in New Orleans.
Zion Williamson has been great when he has played as he has averaged 24.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 59.2% from the field. The only problem is that injuries have decimated his career so far. He has played only 184 games in 5 seasons and missed the entire 2021-22 season with a foot injury.
Pelicans Recent Season Results
The Pelicans were originally the New Orleans Hornets and were moved from Charlotte to New Orleans in 2002. They spent two seasons in Oklahoma City after Hurricane Katrina and changed their name to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013.
The team hasn’t found much playoff success reaching the postseason just 8 times since 2002. They have never played in the conference finals. The team’s best season came back in 2007-08 when they won 56 games and lost in the Western Conference Semifinals to the San Antonio Spurs in 7 games.
In 2019, the Pelicans drafted superstar Zion Williamson and expected to build a championship contender by now but injuries have limited Williamson’s impact on the team. He has played just 184 games in 5 seasons with the team. He missed the entire series in 2024 vs the Thunder in the first round.
| Season | Record | Playoff Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 49-33 | Lost West 1st Round |
| 2022-23 | 42-40 | |
| 2021-22 | 36-46 | Lost West 1st Round |
| 2020-21 | 31-41 | |
| 2019-20 | 30-42 | |
| 2018-19 | 33-49 | |
| 2017-18 | 48-34 | Lost West Conf. Semifinals |
| 2016-17 | 34-48 | |
| 2015-16 | 30-52 | |
| 2014-15 | 45-37 | Lost West 1st Round |
| 2013-14 | 34-48 | |
| 2012-13 | 27-55 | |
| 2011-12 | 21-45 | |
| 2010-11 | 46-36 | Lost West 1st Round |
| 2009-10 | 37-45 | |
| 2008-09 | 49-33 | Lost West 1st Round |
| 2007-08 | 56-26 | Lost West Conf. Semifinals |
| 2006-07 | 39-43 | |
| 2005-06 | 38-44 | |
| 2004-05 | 18-64 | |
| 2003-04 | 41-41 | Lost East 1st Round |
| 2002-03 | 47-35 |
