The Pelicans ended their abominably underwhelming 2015-2016 campaign with a 30-52 record, the sixth worst record in the league. And although last year's result was an outcome no New Orleans fan pined for, at least it came in a season when the Pelicans had a first round draft pick awaiting them at the grisly end.
To find the last time the Pelicans had a first draft pick (one that they didn't trade), you have to teleport back four years to 2012, when a dyad of picks resulted in Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers.