According to the ESPN source, the New Orleans Pelicans are going to defer the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round choice until…
According to a recent ESPN story, the New Orleans Pelicans have opted to defer the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round choice until the 2025 NBA Draft.
This choice is a strategic move by the Pelicans, who acquired the draft pick as part of Anthony Davis’ blockbuster deal in 2019.
The delay of the draft pick means that the Lakers will have to wait until 2025 to send their first-round pick to the Pelicans.
This delay might have a big impact on both teams, as draft picks are valued commodities in the NBA, frequently used in deals or to choose promising young players.
For the Pelicans, this choice could signify a long-term strategy to team building, as they want to maximize the value of their lottery pick by waiting for a possibly stronger draft class in 2025.
It also provides them more flexibility in future transactions by retaining the choice for an additional year.
On the other hand, the Lakers may see this postponing as a negative because they will have to wait longer to consummate the Anthony Davis trade.
However, they still have a great roster led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, so the impact of this delay may be limited in the short run.
Overall, the delay of the draft pick adds an interesting layer to the ongoing story between these two organizations, which will be worth watching as the 2025 NBA Draft approaches.
