Pelicans Trade for No. 23 Pick, Acquiring Valuable Assets Ahead of NBA Draft

NEW ORLEANS, La. — The New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers have finalized a trade that sends the No. 23 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to New Orleans. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the deal on June 17, 2025, stating that the Pacers will also send the draft rights to a second-round pick from 2023 to the Pelicans.

In exchange, the Pelicans have agreed to send Indiana their 2026 first-round pick, as part of a series of trades that has evolved over recent deadlines. This particular pick was originally sent to Toronto with top-four protection in a previous trade and later flipped to New Orleans.

The move positions the Pelicans well in the upcoming draft, as they now control two of the top 23 picks, including their own No. 7 overall selection. This allows for a chance to bring in two promising young players from the loaded 2025 draft class.

Indiana’s motive behind the trade is both financial and strategic. By offloading the pick, they will eliminate a cap hold of approximately $3.24 million for the 2025-26 season. This added flexibility is crucial as they aim to re-sign key players, while also ensuring they have more first-round picks available for future trades.

Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports commented on the implications of the trade, emphasizing that the Pacers now have the potential to offer up to four unprotected first-round picks in future trade discussions. This is a significant shift, as they previously faced limitations due to league rules concerning consecutive draft rights.

While such trades are typically restricted during the playoffs, this agreement was permitted since it did not involve current players on either team’s roster. This allows the Pacers to remain active even as they continue their run in the NBA Finals.

The stakes are high for both teams, as the Pelicans seek to fortify their roster while the Pacers look to manage their salary cap and enhance their trade flexibility. The narrative around Ace Bailey, a top prospect, suggests he might be a target for New Orleans, intensifying speculation ahead of the draft.