Kevin O’Connor has acknowledged an attention-grabbing draft scenario for each the New Orleans Pelicans and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The New Orleans Pelicans appointed former Government Vice President of the NBA- Joe Dumars as their president of basketball operations in April.
Though the staff has not had success within the playoffs for a number of seasons now, the introduction of Dumars to the entrance workplace is anticipated to vary plenty of issues within the organisation.
In the meantime, the Philadelphia 76ers even have a number of huge offseason selections forward of them after lacking out on the playoffs solely final season.
Bringing Paul George in free company made them one of many favorites to compete for the championship, however accidents to their stars derailed their marketing campaign and this led to them lacking out of the playoffs.
Philly was capable of land the third decide within the NBA draft and are linked with a transfer for Ace Bailey, a proficient guard from Rutgers.
Nevertheless, Kevin O’Connor has now acknowledged that there could possibly be modifications within the place of picks from each these groups.
The Pelicans have the quantity seven decide within the 2025 draft.
Bailey is anticipated to be a high three decide, however O’Connor has heard the Pelicans like Bailey and will commerce up a number of locations to carry him to New Orleans.
“Personally, if I’m Philadelphia, I’d be very, very open to buying and selling down.
“I’ve heard the Pelicans at quantity seven, like Ace Bailey. Joe Dumars there, appears like he actually likes Ace Bailey,” stated O’Connor when speaking concerning the Pelicans’ curiosity in Bailey.
Their curiosity in bringing a younger guard like Bailey could possibly be as a result of all of the accidents on the guard place that they had final yr.
Dejounte Murray was dropped at the staff, however he was injured and couldn’t carry out constantly for them.
The 76ers have been linked with drafting Bailey or Tre Johnson, who performed at Texas A&M.
Johnson averaged 19 factors per sport in school, whereas Bailey averaged 17 factors, however had an ideal season defensively as nicely.
Nevertheless, the 76ers are nicely stacked within the guard place and O’Connor believes they might add South Sudanese middle Khaman Maluach.
Maluach performed for the Duke Blue Devils and averaged 8 factors, however his defensive resilience has raised his draft inventory considerably.
O’Connor believes the 76ers might carry Maluach as an alternative of Bailey as Johnson can be drafted increased and never be capable of get picked in the event that they transfer under within the draft.
He added: “[They] might attempt to commerce as much as quantity three to Philly or quantity 4 with Charlotte. That, to me, is the perfect case situation for the Sixers.
“You commerce down 4 spots from three to seven, New Orleans will get their man in Ace Bailey, after which at quantity seven, you’ll be able to most likely nonetheless get Maluach there. I’d think about he’s gonna nonetheless be there. I don’t know. I don’t know if Tre Johnson can be there at quantity seven for Philadelphia.”
