Pelicans considering trading up in 2023 NBA Draft, targeting Scoot Henderson:

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to aggressively pursue a top pick, potentially second or third, in the 2023 NBA Draft to target G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

• The Pelicans currently have the No. 14 pick in the June 22 draft.
• Henderson is expected to be selected No. 2 by the Charlotte Hornets, according to The Athletic’s latest mock draft.
• In his second and final season with Ignite, Henderson averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

Backstory

New Orleans is drafting in the lottery for the fifth straight season since selecting two-time NBA All-Star Zion Williamson with the first pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. After landing the 14th pick in the upcoming draft, the Pelicans are looking to move to the opposite end of the lottery to potentially take Henderson.

Can the Pelicans pull this off?

People within the Pelicans organization have showed a great deal of interest in Henderson throughout the draft process. Pulling off a deal to get the No. 2 or No. 3 pick in this year’s draft won’t be easy, though. New Orleans has two clear paths to make this happen: give up a large package of picks and/or young players or offer up one of its young stars.

The Pelicans have as much trade ammo as anyone in the league outside of Utah and Oklahoma City. Along with all their own future first rounders, New Orleans still owns one more Lakers pick in either 2024 or 2025 and Bucks picks in 2025 and 2027.

I’m sure potential suitors would be more interested if Brandon Ingram or Williamson became available.

Williamson’s recent off-court drama and long history of injuries have made some weary of his status as face of the franchise, but I’d still bet on the Pelicans leaning into his potential rather than trading him this early in his career. I’d also be shocked to hear Ingram’s name involved in any of these talks. — Guillory

How would Henderson fit in New Orleans?

Well, it depends on who he’s playing with. If the Pelicans pull off a deal that allows them to add Henderson while keeping Ingram and Williamson, they’d have one of the most dynamic and explosive young trios in the NBA. This team would be must-watch TV as long as everyone is healthy and on the floor.

Henderson would also bring a downhill, up-tempo style at the point guard position that doesn’t always exist with CJ McCollum and Jose Alvarado. Having someone like Henderson who can get into the paint and create looks at the rim or spray out to shooters would make life much easier on Ingram and Williamson. If someone like Williamson has to go in order to bring Henderson in, things would be much different in New Orleans.

There would be a ton of pressure on Henderson to not only bring a high level of production early for a team that still sees itself as a playoff contender, but he’d also have a lot of pressure to not repeat some of the mistakes Williamson…