The New Orleans Pelicans are planning to defer the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick until 2025, clearing the way for the Lakers to select 17th overall in the 2024 NBA draft, sources told ESPN on Friday.
The Pelicans — who have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday to formally inform the NBA of the decision — had the choice to use or defer the pick a year as part of the Anthony Davis trade in 2019. This is the final of three first-round picks that the Lakers owe to the Pelicans in the deal.