The New Orleans Pelicans will be extremely happy after the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery. The Los Angeles Lakers were awarded the 8th overall pick in this year’s draft. But as part of the Anthony Davis trade, the Lakers will be surrendering that pick to the Pelicans.
The Pelicans were worried that the pick could go to the Grizzlies, as they had traded that pick to Memphis as part of the Jonas Valanciunas trade, but made sure it was top-10 protected.
The Pelicans posted a doctored clip on their social media which shows the Pelicans getting a steal on LeBron James, then going on the fastbreak and dunking the ball. A draft lottery pick was photoshopped onto the ball, to reference the fact that the Lakers lost their pick to the Pelicans.
NBA writer Anthony F. Irwin responded to this post on Twitter, mocking the Pelicans for celebrating and bragging about a trade that sent their last franchise player, Anthony Davis, to a team that won the NBA championship in his first season there with them:
I've never seen a team brag so much about trading away its last franchise player to a situation where he won a ring. https://t.co/Wjzj8fpjWX
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) May 18, 2022
“I’ve never seen a team brag so much about trading away its last franchise player to a situation where he won a ring.”
Irwin does make a point. Regardless of how well the Pelicans have been doing since the AD trade, the Lakers will be considered the winners because they won an NBA championship immediately. Whereas the Pelicans are yet to make it past the first round of the playoffs.
The Pelicans do have a franchise star to build around in Zion Williamson. But his injury problems have kept him away from the court for a long time. Williamson did not play throughout last season.
But with the way Brandon Ingram and new arrival, CJ McCollum have been performing, the Pelicans front office will be hoping that Williamson fits well with them, as he could create a formidable trio with them when he returns.
