The New Orleans Pelicans are winding up a frustrating offseason that hasn't seen much movement, with their last result being a 132-126 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on 2026-04-13.
What happened?
Their plan, despite the inaction that has currently defined the last few months, is to compete for the playoffs. If that comes to fruition, it would normally mean another year of missing out on the fun at the top of the draft.
Why it matters for New Orleans Pelicans
This season, though, the Pelicans could still end up with a top pick thanks to the Milwaukee Bucks going into a full-on rebuild. With the Bucks' rebuild, New Orleans still possibly missing the postseason, there is a good chance that the Pelicans are drafting early on in the 2027 NBA draft.
What comes next?
Caleb Holt is a freshman guard for the Arizona Wildcats who is expected to take over as one of the stars of a top-10 team and be a leader on both sides of the ball. He projects as a fantastic two-way wing in the NBA if his measurements show a positive wingspan. He'll get a chance to show off his defensive potential in a lot of important games throughout this college season. The Pelicans want to compete and continue to complement the core of Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy for the time being, they have two impressive young players in Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, who could be the true future of the franchise. If New Orleans continues the expected pivot to those young players, Holt could be a long-term partner with both of those stars if his freshman season looks like it is expected to. Holt is a fantastic athlete who could shoot the ball with impressive range, pass the ball and always played with a high motor in high school. These are the exact things that this roster needs out of a wing right now. If they end up with a top pick, they could find a decade-long answer. The lottery odds are going to cause a lot of chaos this year, so just having a shot at the top is more important than any specific finish. Early simulations have a lot of variance, but the Pelicans are frequently in the top four thanks to Milwaukee. The Pelicans' recent form has been poor, with a record of 1W-0D-4L in their last 5 games, losing the last 4. Despite this, they are still looking to compete for the playoffs, and the addition of Caleb Holt could be a key factor in their success.
