When making the Anthony Davis trade that brought them title No. 17, the sent out what was at the time described by ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski as “one of the most substantial returns on a single star player in modern league history.” In addition to three promising young players, the Lakers sent out the rights to three first round draft picks, the last of which has yet to convey.
But a unique quirk of the deal gives the Pelicans a bit more say over when one such pick will convey than most teams do in their own trade hauls; although the Pelicans can choose to take the Lakers’ pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA draft, they can also opt to defer that selection to the following year, leaving the Lakers with their own pick this season, and snagging their selection in 2025.