DRAFT

Melvin Council Jr.

New Orleans Pelicans

ROOKIE · NBA RATING PENDING

A big downhill two-way combo guard

NOP

New Orleans Pelicans

Western · Southwest · proj. 34-48 (▼1.7)

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A physical two-way guard whose shooting and age make him a long shot.

Proj. pick #89Range UDFAComp Marcus Smart (lite)

Strengths

Size and physical perimeter defense
Downhill driving

Top concern

Unreliable jumper and older age

Draft grade — a pre-NBA scouting projection from the curated Big Board, graded against the draft class. It is not an NBA rating; an NBA rating appears once he plays a qualifying NBA season.

Contract

2026-27

—Two-way

Runs through—

Est. market value$1,500,000 /yr

Surplus+$1,500,000

FAIR VALUEpaid about what he is worth

Market value is an estimate, not a reported figure: what his play is forecast to fetch on the open market in 2026-27 — his current rating, a year older. Cap thresholds are projected for 2026-27 until the league sets them.

2026-27 off-season

1 move

Jun 27
SIGNINGNOPAGREED
Signed with the Pelicans
WIRE REPORT on the wire →

OFFICIAL means the league’s own records carry the move; AGREED means a trusted insider reported it and the league has not processed it yet. Terms and attribution come from the wire, which is the only source that carries them.