New Pelicans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars told Rod Walker of NOLA.com that he wasn’t upset when the team’s first-round draft pick fell to No. 7 on lottery night.
Dumars expressed confidence that New Orleans would still be able to select a quality player at that position.
One key reason for his lack of concern, as Walker points out, is his strong trust in the scouting expertise of the Pelicans’ new senior vice president of basketball operations, Troy Weaver.
“Troy has a unique skill set,” Dumars said. “His ability to identify talent in this league is elite. He has a long track record of being able to identify players at an elite level.”
Dumars believes Weaver’s proven eye for talent will ensure the team makes a smart choice despite not getting an earlier pick, reinforcing the organization’s optimism about their draft prospects.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is looking forward to playing in Memphis, plus more from the Southwest Division. https://t.co/fZ9ZERrRzi
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) June 22, 2025
