Who are the Pelicans 2024 draft picks? The Pelicans had a promising season that ultimately ended in disappointment. Facing a stacked Western Conference, the talented young group battled injuries and ultimately made it into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed.
Unfortunately, that meant taking on the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pelicans, one of the best teams in Louisiana sports, were dispatched quickly, swept in four games.
The focus immediately shifted to the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Pelicans possessed the 21st overall pick, originally acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Pelicans 2024 Draft Picks
This was a bit of a weird draft coming in for the Pelicans. The Pelicans were involved in a four-team trade in 2020, ultimately getting first-round picks in 2025 and 2027, as well as the right to swap 2024 and 2026 first-round picks with Milwaukee.
They exercised that right, moving from the 23rd overall spot to 21st overall. They also came into the draft without a second-round pick, leaving their options a bit limited overall. Let’s see what the Pelicans did and if these players can cement their place in the list of the best Pelicans of all time.
Yves Missi, C, Baylor
The Baylor freshman was a five-star recruit out of high school, ranked 13th in ESPN’s 2023 class. He was an immediate impact player, earning Big 12 All-Freshman and All-Defensive honors. It was a one-and-done campaign but an effective one.
Missi excels around the rim, finishing eighth in the nation in dunk attempts. He gets a lot of his offensive possessions from rolling in the pick-and-roll, which is a great niche to be in when moving to the NBA.
He shows good ability as an offensive rebounder, giving the Pelicans a presence at the rim on the offensive end of the floor. His ability to protect the rim without fouling out once is a notable stat as well.
His role will be to mimic Dereck Lively II – get downhill, thrive in the paint on both ends and get extra possessions. He might not be as good an offensive player but he has the physical profile to be a very good big in the NBA.
Yves Missi, right, poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 21st by the New Orleans Pelicans 2024 draft picks during the first round, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Antonio Reeves, G, Kentucky
This pick originally was made by and belonged to the Orlando Magic. The two clubs would ultimately agree to swap unprotected second-round picks in the 2030 and 2031 NBA Draft for the right to Reeves, who was taken with the 47th overall pick in 2024.
The first-team All-SEC and third-team All-American had his best season. In his first season with the Wildcats, he earned SEC co-Sixth Man of the Year. He has the potential to be an elite three-point shooter, which immediately gives him value at the next level.
His jumper, however, is a set shot that has limited lift and he may have trouble getting it off at the NBA level. He can be a capable 3-and-D pro but he’s already a bit old (24 years old) for a prospect.
If Reeves is going to make the rotation, he is going to need to show off his sharpshooting skills. He reads very similar to Matt Ryan and Sam Hauser, who were older prospects who shined in the G League before getting their shot.
46 players were drafted BEFORE this guy…
Antonio Reeves will make them pay for those decisions soon enough 🤫pic.twitter.com/G7WwHkJf9R
— Cats Coverage (@Cats_Coverage) June 27, 2024
What the Rookies Can Bring to the Table
The Pelicans needed size and strength in their frontcourt, especially with Jonas Valanciunas getting ready to hit free agency. What they got was even more than that: youth, athleticism, and a potentially intimidating presence around the rim.
Missi is also still raw, not playing basketball until 16 (he’s 19 now). He has the kind of physical abilities that translate to the NBA and will get to work around a talented core in New Orleans. The Pelicans have a solid history of finding critical contributors later on in the draft. It is their top picks that need to be developed with patience and care.
As for Reeves, it is more likely that he’ll begin his career in the G League. Unless he shoots lights out throughout the summer, the likelihood is that it will take him a few years before he gets his crack in the NBA. He has the three-point ability to be dangerous and every team can use a great shooter.
📸 Yves Missi – Antonio Reeves 📸 pic.twitter.com/KuQ7CIbRzU
— New Orleans Pelicans Türkiye 🇹🇷 (@NOP__Turkiye) June 30, 2024
What’s Ahead for the Pelicans?
They face a loaded Western Conference in the years to come. The Mavericks, Nuggets, Thunder, and Timberwolves will all be in contention. Getting a full year out of Zion Williamson will help the Pelicans, but Missi could be a difference-maker.
What’s nice for the Pelicans is that they have an additional first-round pick next year and in 2027. They’ll need to maintain patience, try to keep Zion healthy, and develop players like Missi while adding quality prospects to the list.
Despite frustrations, the future of the New Orleans Pelicans is bright. If they can get everyone on the floor at the same time, playing to their ceiling, and on the same page, they could be a problem to deal with.
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