The 2025-26 season hasn't been a walk in the park for the New Orleans Pelicans. With a 15-41 record as they emerge from the All-Star break, the Pelicans find themselves in a tough spot.
The front office seems hesitant to make any significant changes, and they're without a first-round pick in a highly anticipated 2026 draft. Add to that the uncertainty surrounding their head coach and a messy cap situation, and it's clear the Pelicans have some challenges ahead.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks are also navigating a rocky season with a 26-30 record, placing them in the play-in tournament as the 10th seed. The decision to trade their former franchise player, Trae Young, might have seemed risky, especially as they grapple with a bottom-10 offense. Yet, there's a silver lining for Atlanta that Pelicans fans might find a bit hard to swallow.
In the 2025 NBA Draft, New Orleans traded their 2026 first-round pick to the Hawks in a deal for Derik Queen. That pick is now projected to be the No. 3 in a draft class touted as generational, featuring multiple players who could have been top picks in previous years.
This positions Atlanta well for the upcoming offseason. With Jalen Johnson making his first All-Star appearance and posting impressive numbers-23.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game-the Hawks are poised to build a strong contender.
Atlanta's future looks bright, despite trading away a star like Trae Young. Johnson, at just 24, is emerging as a franchise cornerstone, and the potential to pair him with a top-three draft pick from a talent-rich class could be transformative.
Even if they miss out on top prospects like Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, or Caleb Wilson, they still have a shot at drafting standout talents like Kingston Flemings or Keaton Wagler. Both are leading top college offenses and have delivered remarkable performances, including 40+ point games against ranked teams.
As Eastern Conference teams eye Atlanta’s potential rise, they might want to acknowledge the strategic moves made by Troy Weaver and Joe Dumars. For Pelicans fans, there's still hope in their promising rookies, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, who shined in the Rising Stars game. However, the cost of acquiring them was missing out on a chance at multiple generational talents this offseason.