CHICAGO – New Orleans experienced its share of poor luck on the court during the 2018-19 regular season, in the form of rampant injuries that often left the Pelicans short-handed, particularly in March and April. But for the second time in the team’s last three trips to the NBA Draft Lottery, fortune has smiled upon the franchise.
As was the case in 2012, on Tuesday night New Orleans captured the grand prize of the annual lottery, capturing the No. 1 pick in the June 20 event, despite only 6.0 percent odds. As a result of a series of New Orleans trades involving first-round picks, the only other time the Pelicans have appeared in the lottery since ’12 was three years ago, when they landed the sixth pick, a selection that was ultimately used on shooting guard Buddy Hield.