National Basketball Association

Pelicans sell rights to 56th pick Michigan State F Dawson

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:56 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New Orleans Pelicans sold the rights Thursday night to its only NBA draft pick.

The Pelicans selected power forward Branden Dawson from Michigan State with the 56th pick before team officials said they moved him to a team they didn't name.

Dawson would have been Alvin Gentry's first as head coach for New Orleans.

New Orleans traded its 2015 first-round pick to Houston before this past season for center Omer Asik, who averaged 9.8 rebounds and 7.3 points per game.

Gentry is trying to build on a team that was knocked out of the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs 4-0 by eventual champion Golden State.

The Pelicans now could look to free agency to build around star Anthony Davis