Recent No. 40 overall picks have yielded Monta Ellis, handful of quality role players

For the second straight June, the New Orleans Pelicans enter the NBA draft as the owners of the 40th overall pick, with the ability to potentially add a contributor or – as was the case in 2016 – a player with long-term promise. Last summer, New Orleans traded the No. 40 choice and No. 39 selection to the Los Angeles Clippers, allowing the Pelicans to move up to No. 33 and select Cheick Diallo. The rookie from Kansas spent much of 2016-17 in the D-League, but over the final four games of the NBA regular season, he averaged 11.