India, June 19 -- The Indiana Pacers have traded their No 23 pick and rights to G League player Mojave King to the New Orleans Pelicans in return for their own 2026 first-round pick and additional financial flexibility ahead of the offseason. This trade becomes all the more unique considering how the draft is still days away and the championship is currently in play.

The Pacers' 2026 first-round pick was originally traded to the Toronto Raptors last season in exchange for Pascal Siakam. This pick was then dealt to the Pelicans earlier this year as part of the Brandon Ingram trade. This gives the Pelican an edge of now owning two picks (Nos 7 and 23) in the first round of the June 2025-26 draft.

King, on the other hand, was a second-roun...