After selecting Kira Lewis with the No. 13 pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans opted to trade their No. 24 pick to the Denver Nuggets and will receive a future pick in the deal, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. On behalf of the Nuggets, the Pelicans drafted RJ Hampton.
New Orleans netted the draft pick as part of the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. The pick originally belonged to the Indiana Pacers before being sent to the Bucks as part of the Malcolm Brogdon sign-and-trade.
Interestingly, Hampton has a connection with LaMelo Ball, who went No. 3 to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Both players made the landmark decision to skip college and go to the NBL, Ball landing with the Illawarra Hawks and Hampton with the New Zealand Breakers. While Ball flourished in the league and earned Rookie of the Year honors, Hampton struggled in a smaller role.