The New Orleans Pelicans officially have the worst record in basketball, which should be music to the ears of Atlanta Hawks fans.
The Pelicans foolishly traded the rights to their unprotected 2026 first round pick during last year's draft, when they moved up from 23rd to 13th to select Derik Queen. While the rookie from Maryland has exceeded expectations, this was quite the overpay.
The “market-rate” price for moving from the late first round to the late lottery is usually an average first. The 2026 NOP/MIL swap, however, is no ordinary pick. The Pelicans were widely predicted to finish near the bottom of the standings this season, and they have only helped solidify their position there in recent memory.