New Orleans Pelicans 2026 NBA Draft Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans were one of the worst teams last year, and they don’t own a first-round pick for this draft.

They traded away last year’s first-round pick to move a few spots up and select Derik Queen. Queen has shown incredible potential, but has also shown weaknesses that led to him not touching the floor. The Pelicans are in an odd spot, having Zion Williamson entering his eighth year.

They have a mix of veteran and young talent in Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, and Jeremiah Fears. New Orleans needs depth to compete in the West. They hold the No. 58 pick, and there’s not a ton of leverage in terms of negotiating trades with the pick.

Pelicans Draft Picks:

• Round 2 — No. 58

Pelicans Draft Needs:

The Pelicans need a rim protector. Queen isn’t big enough to be a factor around the rim consistently. They can go younger and get another guard to pair with Fears. With the third-to-last pick, it makes sense to get a player who’s at his ceiling, and he’s immediately ready to play bench minutes on night one.

In other words, an older player who’s projected to have a ceiling as a fringe role player is the Pelicans’ best bet.

Pelicans Draft Targets:

Kylan Boswell — PG/SG — Illinois

Kylan Boswell is a three-year player from Illinois. He’s definitely ready to play. He made the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Having another point guard helps the Pelicans stay balanced.

Boswell would be expected to have a low turnover rate but won’t provide the Pelicans with much playmaking. Another solid component to his game is that he can play both guard positions. Being asked to be a stationary shooter for the Pelicans will add value to their offense.

Bruce Thornton — PG/SG — Ohio State

Bruce Thornton is another three-year player from Ohio State. Naturally, at his smaller size, he will get picked on at the NBA level.

A guard that can navigate through screens is significant. However, in certain pick-and-roll coverages where he’s off the ball and the offense forces him as the help defender, he certainly faces the biggest challenge to overcome. While he operates in the pick-and-roll, he doesn’t force things and makes smart decisions, like picking up his dribble and resetting the play.

Ugonna Onyenso — C — Virginia

Ugonna Onyenso has speed for a big man and can rim run. This helps the Pelicans if they want to play with a faster lineup. He’s more than just an athlete. He can hit the occasional face-up jumper to keep the defense honest.

Screen setting is a huge part of NBA offenses, and he will need to be prepared to set screens, even though he will likely be used sparingly in his rookie year. As a big, he must be able to defend in a few different pick-and-roll coverages at a minimum, which he can.