The New Orleans Pelicans followed up one of the best seasons in franchise history with one of the worst, and fell three spots in the NBA Draft lottery on top of that. With their seventh overall pick, the Pelicans selected Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears. Additionally, they traded up to the 13th pick to select Maryland center Derik Queen, making a controversial trade as a result. Now, heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pelicans have a roster featuring newcomers in Fears and Queen to go along with offseason acquisitions Jordan Poole, Kevon Looney, and Saddiq Bey.