LOS ANGELES – Even though there are still two games remaining in the regular season, New Orleans is already nearly assured of either the ninth or 10th pre-lottery slot during the May 16 event. The NBA draft lottery will determine whether the Pelicans keep a 2017 first-round draft pick that otherwise will be conveyed to Sacramento, as part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade in February.
At the moment, New Orleans (33-47) would be placed in the No. 10 pre-lottery slot, which carries a 4.0 percent chance of earning a top-three pick (the only way the Pelicans will keep the selection is if it finishes somewhere between 1 and 3; if not, Sacramento will get it).