The Pelicans are a bad team, yet they owe the rights to their 2026 pick to the Hawks
Nobody really understands why Joe Dumars and the New Orleans Pelicans made their draft day trade with the Atlanta Hawks. In fact, Atlanta thought the trade was so lopsided in their favor that they asked the Pels’ front office for clarification multiple times.
The Hawks traded the 13th pick (Derik Queen) for the 23rd pick (Asa Newell) and the rights to a 2026 swap between Milwaukee and New Orleans.