The NBA Draft Lottery is Tuesday night and it could be very good for the New Orleans Pelicans – and very bad for the Los Angeles Lakers.
LA has had it bad enough already this year, with their horrible track record that sent them packing before the postseason even began.
As for the Pelicans, they actually did far better than most people expected and fought their way into the playoffs, where they lost in the first round against the Phoenix Suns.
So why could the draft lottery work wonders for the Pels?
Because they acquired a 2022 first-round pick from LA when they traded away Anthony Davis a few years ago.
Most people didn’t expect the pick to result in anything because it could only be held onto by the Pelicans if the Lakers’ pick landed in the top ten.
But to land in the top ten, the Lakers would need to have a horrible 2022 season and that wasn’t going to happen, right?
Wrong!
Wishing our friends at the Lakers the best of luck in the NBA Draft Lottery tonight! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/sr7Yq0g3nL
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) May 17, 2022
Because of LA’s trouble year, the Pelicans could get themselves a top-ten pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
To celebrate, the team tweeted out a humorous signal of support to LA, wishing them well in Tuesday’s draft.
If the Lakers land a top-ten pick in the draft, that goes to the Pelicans.
It would only make this up-and-coming team even stronger.
Pelicans Flying
The Pelicans definitely surpassed expectations this year.
Most people didn’t expect them to come even close to the playoffs, especially since Zion Williamson was sidelined all season.
Instead, the team fought hard and were able to get into the play-in tournament and then the playoffs.
The first round really showed off their skills and impressed the entire league.
They did it all without Williamson, who is set to return in the fall.
Therefore, the Pelicans could have their current impressive squad, Williamson, and a first-round pick when the new season begins.
That sounds downright dangerous.
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