Pelicans fail to move up in lottery, will select 10th overall in 2021 NBA Draft

For a second consecutive time of the current David Griffin regime, the lottery did not improve the New Orleans Pelicans position in an NBA draft.

The Pelicans will stay in their pre-draft slot of 10th when the league conducts the 2021 NBA Draft next month on July 29.

The big winners were the Detroit Pistons, for landing the top overall pick — and the right to select Cade Cunningham, and the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, for rounding out the rest of the top 4.

Last August, the Pelicans failed to move up as well, remaining glued to 13th in the 2020 NBA Draft and later selecting Kira Lewis Jr. However, two years ago, the franchise beat some very long odds to grab the first overall selection — which obviously resulted in Zion Williamson coming to New Orleans.

In addition to their first round pick of 10th overall, the Pelicans also hold four second round picks (35, 40, 43, 53), but many believe the team will not cash them all in, instead opting to wheel and deal probably several away in a trade or two.

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