The Pelicans have traded the 53rd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Sixers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Sixers sent $2 million back to the Pelicans.
The Pelicans still have the 17th, 35th, 43rd and 51st picks in this year’s draft, so they likely didn’t have a fifth player in mind for them to draft, especially so late.
The Sixers, on the other hand, are now armed with the 28th, 50th and 53rd picks.
Having two late second-round picks gives the Sixers a chance to take on a couple of rookies that they can develop behind the scenes while they continue to contend in the present, or can be used as a sweetener for another potential deal.
