The New Orleans Pelicans have made a strategic move by acquiring the No. 23 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft from the Indiana Pacers. This trade, first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN, also includes the draft rights to Mojave King, the 47th overall pick in the 2023 Draft. To facilitate this, the Pacers have regained their own 2026 first-round pick, previously traded to the Toronto Raptors in the Pascal Siakam deal. This transaction is expected to offer the Pacers salary-cap relief as they aim to re-sign center Myles Turner.

With this acquisition, the Pelicans now possess two first-round picks (Nos. 7 and 23) for the upcoming draft, indicating their intent to revamp a team that recently finished with a dismal 21-61 record. They have been conducting predraft workouts with numerous prospects, suggesting a focused approach to enhancing their roster through this draft.