The New Orleans Pelicans hold only the 58th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft yet are actively working to acquire a selection in the top 10. Joe Dumars and the front office have identified a specific target in that range and are exploring deals to move up. New Orleans surrendered its own 2026 first-round pick, which landed at No. 8, along with the No. 23 selection in 2025 to Atlanta in exchange for the No. 13 pick and Derik Queen.

Derik Queen posted 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game across 81 appearances in his rookie season while averaging 25.0 minutes. He shot 47.3 percent from the field and 50.2 percent on two-point attempts but connected on just 26.1 percent of his threes. Those numbers reflect a versatile big who handles the ball at the top of the key yet still needs refinement on the perimeter and in pick-and-roll coverage.

Queen brings passing vision and physical finishing that fit alongside Zion Williamson in a spacing-heavy offense, yet his inconsistent defensive rotations expose the Pelicans' lack of rim protection when he steps out. Trading two high first-round assets to secure him at No. 13 created a roster that now lacks immediate draft capital to address wing depth or backup bigs. The front office appears willing to part with Trey Murphy III or Herbert Jones to regain a lottery selection rather than build through free agency or internal development.

This pursuit continues a pattern of aggressive draft-night maneuvering that previously included returning Indiana's 2026 first-round pick to acquire the No. 23 selection in 2025. The Pelicans finished the 2025-26 season outside the play-in picture, which turned their unprotected pick into the No. 8 selection now held by Atlanta. Rival executives have noted the difficulty of moving into the lottery without first-round picks of their own to offer as sweeteners.

The 2026 draft sits two weeks away, leaving limited time for Dumars to finalize a deal before the selection process begins. Any package would likely center on young rotation players rather than future picks, given the depleted asset cupboard. If no trade materializes, New Orleans will select at No. 58 and enter the offseason with the same roster core that produced the current shortfall.