The NBA draft subsequent month presents the previous Duke Cooper Flagg star as a prize amongst lottery hopes. The lottery choices will likely be chosen for the order challenge this yr on Monday. New Orleans’ Pelicans are 12.1% probability of acquiring the primary choice.
New Orleans gained the lottery twice in its franchise, first deciding on Anthony Davis in 2012, then Zion Williamson in 2019. Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report Just lately printed a false challenge predicting all of the projections and choices of lottery challenge.
In response to Wasserman, New Orleans will miss the selection of superior lottery this season, somewhat acquiring eighth place and taking Maryland Heart Derik Queen.
Derik Queen. Certainly one of Massive Man’s greatest passers -by on earth. Star. pic.twitter.com/qlatur7pyn
– Will Rucker (@ will_rucker3_ad) April 23, 2025
“How Dumars considers that Zion Williamson is one other large query that might play a job within the workforce’s draft plans,” explains Wasserman in his final draft.
“Anyway, Derik Queen may appear like the very best participant accessible for New Orleans. And the scouts who thought very about Queen earlier than the NCAA match shouldn’t really feel extra assured than after the discharge of Maryland 16. His three three-point manufacturers and a 27-point match in opposition to the top of collection n ° 1, Florida may solely have helped skeptics.”
The collection of New Orleans within the draft may drastically contribute to figuring out the way forward for the star striker Zion Williamson, who fought one other season stuffed with accidents. Williamson has two extra years on his present contract, which he signed in 2012. The outdated alternative No. 1 posted profession heights in rebounds, assists, flights and blocked photographs, however solely performed this yr.
Zion Williamson within the 2024-25 season: 24.6 ppg, 7.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 56.7 FG share pic.twitter.com/t71j9nj83o
– New Orleans Pelicans (@pelicansnba) April 21, 2025
The Pelicans confronted an analogous dilemma in 2019 when the workforce gained the lottery, however exchanged the striker on the time of the Anthony Davis period within the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Pelicans win the Flagg’s editorial rights, an analogous choice could possibly be made to discover a new home for Williamson.
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