The New Orleans Pelicans have the 21st pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. It's not a lock that the Pelicans will keep that pick and select in that spot, however.

New Orleans could trade that pick to move back in the draft, while picking up additional second-round draft capital. Such a move would help balance out the Pelicans draft picks moving forward.

The Pelicans are flush with first-round draft picks in the coming years. They have all of their own picks, plus extra picks and swaps coming from the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.

New Orleans doesn't have many second-round picks though. As of now, the Pelicans have a second-round pick only in 2030. All of the team's other day-two selections have been moved to other teams through various trades.

The NBA invited 12 players to attend the upcoming NBA Draft and wait in the green room, sources told Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

The players include: Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan, Reed Sheppard, Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle, Dalton Knecht, Tidjane Salaun, Ron Holland, Cody Williams, Devin Carter and Ja'Kobe Walter.

The league is expected to invite 11-12 more players.

Rob Dillingham and Nikola Topic did not receive green room invites for this initial round.  

Matas Buzelis has been considered a top prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft for a while now. Recent workouts have solidified his status over recent weeks.

The 6-foot-10 combo forward has shown off an improved jumper, while demonstrating defensive versatility and good playmaking skills for his position. One team interested in potentially moving up for Buzelis in the draft is his hometown Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls watched Buzelis at a private workout in Los Angeles. Chicago president Arturas Karnisovas and Buzelis also share Lithuanian heritage, and familiarity from being around the Lithuanian national program.

In 34 games with the G League Ignite last season, Buzelis averaged 14.1 points on 45.5% shooting. He also grabbed 6.6 rebounds and blocked 1.9 shots per game.

Donovan Clingan has positioned himself to be a top prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft. Despite that status, Clingan could slip in the draft, because several teams with top picks already have centers in place.

If Clingan starts to slide, a handful of teams are positioned to try to trade up to select him. The Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz could all move up from their later-lottery picks to get in range to draft Clingan. The floor for the UConn center is considered to be the Portland Trail Blazers, who hold the seventh overall pick.

Clingan measured at 7-foot-3 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan and a 9-foot-7 standing reach at the Draft Combine. He's considered an outstanding defender, and he has nice touch on his jumper too. Many scouts envision Clingan eventually becoming an all-around offensive threat, who can also protect the rim, similar to a later-career Brook Lopez.

Nikola Topic, a possible top-10 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, has been diagnosed with a partially torn ACL.

Topic suffered a left knee injury in January shortly after his midseason transfer from Mega MIS to Red Star Belgrade, missing four months of Adriatic League action. When Topic returned in late April, he played in three games before injuring the same knee again.

Topic's agent, Misko Raznatovic, told ESPN he does not expect the injury to have a major impact on his draft position.

Topic averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 assists shooting 65% from 2-point range, 29% for 3 and 85% from the free throw line at Mega MIS.

On a recent episode of The Ringer's NBA Draft Show, ESPN's Jonathan Givony shared some thoughts on the San Antonio Spurs. Givony said he's heard that the Spurs are open to moving their draft picks, as well as any players not named Victor Wembanyama or Devin Vassell.

"Everything I hear is that they want to be competitive next year, they want to be in the playoffs. They’re not looking to make this a two- to three-year process, where they’re in the lottery again next year. For right now, they want to be competitive next year and that’s why I think they’re going to be aggressive with those picks," Givony said.

"I've heard nobody in the roster is untouchable except Victor and Devin Vassell."

Givony also added that he's heard available players are interested in playing in San Antonio because of the presence of the young superstar big man.

“Every free agent, every veteran guard, they all want to play with Victor Wembanyama," Givony said.

The Houston Rockets have discussed trading the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft with both the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies.

The Rockets' target in trade talks with the Nets is Mikal Bridges. However, Brooklyn is seeking players to add around Bridges in any deals they make.

The Grizzlies are reportedly attempting to move up to be in range to draft center Donovan Clingan. Memphis has a need for a long-term center to add to their core. Clingan isn't expected to be available when the Grizzlies select with the ninth overall pick.

Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam was included on Cameroon's preliminary roster for this summer's Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Cameroon will play against Brazil and Montenegro in Group B of the Latvia Olympic Qualifying Tournament from July 2 through July 7.

Siakam is set to be an unrestricted free agent just ahead of the tournament starting. Reports are that the Pacers will offer Siakam a maximum contract ahead of his becoming a free agent. Under the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement, teams can negotiate with their own free agents between the end of the NBA Finals and the start of free agency on June 30.

Cameroon has also added likely 2024 NBA draftees Yves Missi of Baylor and Ulrich Chomche of the NBA Academy Africa to the preliminary roster. Missi and Chomche could both be first-round picks at the 2024 NBA Draft.

In ESPN's latest mock 2024 NBA Draft, big man DaRon Holmes II is projected to be selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 28th pick. Denver could be looking for a backup big behind Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon, and Holmes projects to be able to play both the four and the five in the NBA.

Holmes has been a riser during the pre-draft process. So much so, that the Dayton product has reportedly cancelled several workouts in the weeks leading up to the draft. That has led to speculation that Holmes has secured a promise that he'll be drafted in the first round.

At this point, it's not known if Denver gave Holmes a first-round guarantee. The mock draft combines intel with need, leading to the projection of the 6-foot-10 big man to the Nuggets.

Nolan Traore will sign a two-year contract with Saint-Quentin in the French first division.

Traore is a projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft as a 17-year-old, 6'5 playmaker. 

Traore was being recruited by Duke, Arkansas, Gonzaga, and Alabama, as well as the Australian NBL and Euroleague and EuroCup teams in France and abroad. 

"It was cool to have all these programs interested in me," Traore said. "I don't take that for granted. It was a reward for all the work I've put in. I was happy to have all these options, but the possibility of staying close to my family was also important. They can visit me, and I can go home easily."