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NBA Draft Lottery 2017: Who each team should take with the No. 1 pick

By John Buhler

Jan 14, 2017; Stanford, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) gets the rebound against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Stanford, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) gets the rebound against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De’Aaron Fox (0) shoots against the Wichita State Shockers during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Joseph-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De’Aaron Fox (0) shoots against the Wichita State Shockers during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Joseph-USA TODAY Sports /

New Orleans Pelicans (top three protected, Sacramento Kings): De’Aaron Fox, point guard, Kentucky Wildcats (1.1 percent)

It’s not looking very promising that the New Orleans Pelicans will be keeping their 2017 first-round pick. As part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade with the Sacramento Kings, the Pelican’s first-round pick is only top-three protected.

While New Orleans has a 1.1 percent chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick, the Pelicans only have a 4.0 percent chance of being able to keep their first-round pick. Expect this pick to belong to the Kings barring something crazy happening in the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery.

Though the Pelicans will likely want to bring back veteran point guard Jrue Holiday for next season, he will be one of the more intriguing point guards to be hitting free agency this summer. He could have priced his way out of New Orleans. If that is the case, look for the Pelicans to go point guard at No. 1.

While Lonzo Ball or Markelle Fultz could be interesting fits at No. 1 for the Pelicans, the point guard that would make the most sense for what head coach Alvin Gentry wants to do is De’Aaron Fox. Fox could be able to assimilate nicely to The Boogie and The Brow backcourt in New Orleans. Like Cousins and Anthony Davis, Fox did play one year at Kentucky under John Calipari.

The Pelicans could target Fox in the No. 3 to No. 8 range should they look to move back. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns, and the Orlando Magic could have the rotational frontcourt pieces that the Pelicans desperately need to help spell Cousins and Davis from time to time.

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