DLBalla

* Mock Draft via Mock Lottery below or at this link: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/pelicans/mock-drafts/6p6ameXfqVKf5K/pels-go-rebuild-draft
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Trade 1:

MIL trades: pick #10 + Kuzma + Sims + G. Harris
NOP trades: Herb Jones + Missi + Hawkins + pick #58 (via DET via NYK via Alvarado trade)

Bucks reload to contend again for Giannis, Giannis signs extention and submits to being a Buck for life and trying his best with the added talent.

Pels/Weaver/Dumars sees an opportunity to get back in the draft and pivot to a retooling around their new young core.

Bucks 2026/27:

Turner/ Missi
Giannis/ Portis
Herb/ Dieng/ Prince
KPJ/ Green/ Trent Jr./ Hawkins
Rollins/ FA

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Trade 2:

CHA trades: pick #16 + Bridges + Salaun
NOP trades: Zion + Matkovic

Hornets make a push with their newfound success, adding a top paint driver/scorer who has seemingly found a path to sustained health, from the Carolinas. Zion should thrive alongside elite shooting. Matkovic is a solid lob+3 big to add to their frountcourt.

Pels/Weaver/Dumars finally turn the page from the Zion era, resetting with solid assets and a stopgap in Bridges with Michigan ties.

Hornets 2026/27:

Diabate/ Kalkbrenner/ Matkovic
Zion/ G. Williams
Miller/ McNeeley
Kon/ J. Green/ Sion
LaMelo/ White/ Mann

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Trade 3: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/pelicans/trades/uE-JVYa_cVi-LR/3way

TOR trades: Barrett, Dick
TOR gets: D. Murray

SAC trades: Monk, Hunter
SAC gets: Barrett, Dick, Looney

NOP trades: D. Murray, Looney
NOP gets: Monk, Hunter

Raptors swap the awkward fit in Barrett for a true table-setting PG in Murray who can bring some dawg-ness for Toronto.

Kings get off the extra Monk year contract for all expirings, taking a flier on Perry draftee Barrett and a try-out for Gradey D.

Pels/Weaver/Dumars grants Murray's wish to be traded to a playoff-contending situation, getting Monk who will accept a 6th man role, and Hunter, another expiring wing.

Raptors 2026/27:

Poeltl/ CMB/ Steinbach
Barnes/ Mamu
Ingram/ Battle
Quickley/ Walter
Murray/ Shead
---

Kings:

Sabonis/ Raynaud/ Cardwell
Dybantsa/ Precious
Keegan/ Clifford
Barrett/ Lavine?
Westbrook/ D. Carter

*(DeRozan waived for 10m guaranteed)
--

"With the 10th pick in the 2026 NBA draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select.... Aday Mara, out of Michigan University."

Weaver is back collecting Centers again, shocking the NBA world with a seeming overreach pick. The logic goes: if Queen is the longterm 4, not long or athletic enough to play the 5 full-time--- then lets pair him with a lid-on-the-rim lob-threat a la Zach Edey. Mara fits the bill there. Wonky, but fun fit with Queen and Fears.


"With the 16th pick in the 2026 NBA draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select..... Chris Cenac, out of the University of Houston.

Another shocker, with Weaver picking yet another big man. But after trading away both Missi and Matkovic in draft trades, they double down on their own new, athletic stock of bigs to develop, as he did in Detroit with Duren and Stewart (and Wiseman and Bagely...). Cenac adds athleticism to the frontcourt and stretch 3-pt. potential if they can re-work his shot selection. Rumor has it that Pelicans' scouts were at many Houston games this year-- Cenac seems the obvious target. Bonus PR angle that he's from New Orleans.

----------------------
Free agency: re-sign DeAndre Jordan as 15th man/ mentor player-coach.

Extension: extend Saddiq Bey to a 3 year, 45 mil. extension (15-17m per year?)


Pelicans go into 2027 submitting to a rebuilding timeline, focused on Fears, Queen, Murphy, and Mara as cornerstones, with a few wildcard flier prospects (Salaun, Cenac), some good veterans in place to stay somewhat competitive (Monk, Bridges, Hunter), and a few wildcard saboteurs to keep them in tank range (Poole, Kuzma). They have multiple big expirings to maneuver with at the deadline in Poole, Hunter and Kuzma, and should be in line for a top pick in 2027 (Cam Williams, Stokes, Branch, ?)


Pelicans 2026/27 roster:

Queen/ Mara/ Cenac/ Jordan
Bridges/ Hunter/ Cenac
Bey/ Kuzma/ Salaun
Murphy/ McGowens
Fears/ Monk/ Poole


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2026 NBA Mock Lotto + Draft: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/pelicans/mock-drafts/6p6ameXfqVKf5K/pels-go-rebuild-draft

1) SAC- Dybantsa
2) DAL- Boozer
3) BKN- Peterson
4) UTA- Wilson
5) WAS- Wagler
6) LAC- Flemings
7) ATL- Burries
8) MEM- Acuff
9) CHI- Mikel Brown Jr.
10) MIL- * TRADE
MIL trades #10, Kuzma, Sims, G. Harris
to NOP for
Herb Jones, Missi, Hawkins, #58
10) NOP- Mara
11) GSW- Mullins
12) PDX- Philon
13) MIA- Lendenberg
14) MEM- Ament
15) OKC- Quaintance
16) CHA- *TRADE
CHA trades #16, Bridges, Salaun
to NOP for
Zion, Matkovic
17) TOR- Steinbach
18) CHA- Peat
19) OKC- Stirtz
20) SAS- Karim Lopez
21) DET- Haugh
22) ATL- Carr
23) PHI- Ngongba II
24) NYK- Morez Johnson Jr.
25) DEN- Veesaar
26) LAL- Dailyn Swain
27) BOS- Yessoufou
28) MIN- Chirstain Anderson
29) CLE- Tanner
30) DAL- Bidunga

Assuming Weaver/Dumars will be delusional buyers in the offseason, as they have signaled through Haynes and others at the deadline, keeping the core and looking to add impact players to the main guys to push for playoffs/play-in....
Poole + pick(s) , Missi, maybe Zion and Herb are the tradeable assets they'll be working with in trade offers.

So which teams will be the sellers? Not many. A lot of current tanking teams will be looking to win next season (Jazz and Nets don't have their own pick in 2027, Wiz will have Trae + AD, Pacers will have Hali back, Hornets are taking a leap).

That leaves teams like Grizzlies, Kings, Bulls, with wildcards being: Mavs, Blazers, Clippers, Hawks, and Bucks if they move GA. Maybe a team like the Heat finally pull the plug, but they don't have their 2027 1st and they haven't been the rebuilding type.

They have a strong group of wings in Trey, Herb, Bey, Zion, with Murray as a starting PG that they'll talk themselves into as a leader and orchestrator of the offense while being solid enough defensively. Fears is ahead of schedule who is developing strongly off the bench and should improve. After a hot start, Queen's defensive lack of effort and impact has been glaring. It's also been obvious he's not a 5 and will need to pair with defensive Center types. They'll hope his move to the bench and a full offseason can bring his defense to at least average to get his offense on the floor. McGowens has been a revelation as a backup wing, spot starter. Missi has improved but could be used for a Center upgrade. They've done well with old DeAndre Jordan starting, so that archetype of a big-bodied Center who can really rebound and offer some level of rim-protection is a key upgrade point.

Centers I see who could be available and improve the Pels' big rotation:

Gafford
Okongwu
Allen
Goga
WCJ
Turner
Jalen Smith 4/5
D. Sharpe
---
(Probably not available, but would be fun homerun swings for multiple 1sts type offers):

Mobley
Bam
Edey
Kessler
Stewart

(non-centers)...
Jaylen Brown
A. Black
Suggs
MPJ
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Example deal frameworks:

Poole + 2027 NOP/MIL 1st (or swap option)
--for--
Okongwu + one of: NAW/Kispert/Kuminga/Risacher

Pels get a stretch-5 who can hit the 3, gives space for Zion, Herb and Queen. Hawks double down on Pelicans' picks again, valuing building through draft. Maybe Missi, Karlo or Peavy would have to be included to close the deal.
----------------------------

Poole + 2027 NOP/MIL 1st
--for--
Turner+ one of: Portis/Kuzma

If Giannas gets traded, Bucks move off the long-term Turner contract and free them up to tank/rebuild next season. Poole is a fun homegrown player to add for 1 year. Pels get their stretch 5 who can protect the rim.
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Wonder where he ranks in minutes played vs. other rookies.

Now Jaren Jackson Jr. actually makes sense. Dumars/Weaver bout to throw a pick offer to get Queen his shot-blocking, 3pt. shooting frontcourt partner?

4) the 'China incident' was actually brother LiAngelo. Stole from some store and got arrested.

LaMelo would be fun. Basically, many players would be more fun than the failed Z experience.

MPJ for Zion straight up. Pels get 3pt shooter and plus rebounder, Nets get the 'star' illusion gamble and the option to waive Z unguaranteed next offseason to have super cap space.

Also- Jaden Springer apparently made the team since he wasn't waived. So on a partial guaranteed standard min. deal. Surprising, especially when that 15th spot could go to a big like Bassey. Makes Jose more tradeable?

I've been crafting up Kessler ideas, too. Shamit's article made good points, Kessler would be such an upgrade, a young defensive anchor foundation like Rudy G.

A few things:
1) seems like we would have to include Missi in a trade for Kessler. Gives them a rookie contract rim running C option to help replace Kessler's role.

2) Jazz have no real incentive to move him, so it would have to be an overpay. They just saw Dumars Weaver give up an unprotected golden ticket 1st, so they likely would hold firm at getting a 1st with no protections, and possibly also a swap or another 1st.

3) A trade for Kessler before the season would likely be an immediate extension agreement for him, which would kick in for the next 26-27 season, jumping his salary to 20-28m/yr range. So before next offseason, they would have to shed one of their big salaries, most likely Murray or Zion. So a Kessler trade should also have Murray going out to a 3rd team for an expiring, or they could risk it and wait until the deadline when teams know Pels have to make a salary dump trade, but Murray would be ready to play by then.

Missi + 2028 unprotected 1st
for
Kessler

Then:

Murray + 2nd to Heat
Rozier + 2nd to Wizards
Smart to Pelicans


Then try to sign Boucher, Lyles or Brogdon. Reeves maybe. Hawkins, Jose available for trade.

Kessler/ Looney
Zion/ Bey/ Queen
Trey/ Smart/ Peavy
Herb/ Hawkins
Poole/ Jose/ Fears

The Trade

TOR sends: Barnes, Gradey, Quickley, #9 pick, '26 1st, '27 swap, '28 1st, '30 1st
TOR recieves: Giannis, McCullom

MIL sends: Giannis
MIL recieves: Gradey, D. Murray, #7 pick, '26 MIL1st swap rights, '27 MIL/NOP 1st(best of), TOR future draft picks: '26 1st, '27 swap, '28 1st, '30 1st

NOP sends: Murray, McCullom, '26 MIL1st swap rights, '27 MIL/NOP 1st(best of) + *(waives Z. Williamson's contract with 7.9 cap hit)
NOP recieves: Barnes, Quickley, #9 pick

Raptors get Giannis and off the Quickley contract for veteran SG in CJ.
Bucks get rebuilding package and control over their own picks back the next 2 seasons.
Pels begin new chapter with Barnes/Murphy core.

Missi/ Olynyk
Barnes/ Karlo
Murphy/ *C. Bryant (#9)
Herb/ Hawkins/ Reaves
Quickley/ Jose

Dude just discovered the trade machine and goin to town on it

Noa Essengue could be in play at 7. Freakishly long and skilled, one of the youngest players in the draft. Would be a fun upside swing.. why trade for Giannis when we can draft the next one?

Fun fact: just saw his hometown is Orleans, France... it's destiny for him to move to the New.

Carter Bryant and Egor Demin are also risers who could shot up to the lottery.