NBA Trade Machine: How to Fix the New Orleans Pelicans Logjam
Easy answer: You can’t
The New Orlean Pelicans offseason splash in free agency was akin to that of an Olympic diver’s.
Etwaun Moore, Solomon Hill, and Terrence Jones. Stink. Stank. Stunk.
The Pelicans also have a number of failed projects, most notably Tyreke Evans. After finally cutting ties with Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, whom are flourishing with Harden in Houston, the Pelicans are still left with the remains of Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, Dante Cummingham, and Quincy Pondexter.
In more blatant terms, it’s a dumpster fire and Anthony Davis is living in it.
With so many pieces that the Pelicans have to move with such low value, it’d be difficult for New Orleans to realistically make a big time trade to swing their fortunes. The Pelicans have too many unproven low value assets in the names presented above.
Things to consider:
I don’t think dangling Moore, Hill, Pondexter, or Cunningham will garner any bites on the fishing line. Moore and Hill are on terrible 4-year deals, and I’m not sure what to make of Cunningham or Pondexter other than bodies on the court.
Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans are the best players the Pelicans can move, but both are on one year deals. The names don’t have a particular great ring in NBA circles, but Holiday is a very undervalued as a true point. If you get past Evans terrible shooting from 3, I personally can’t, Evans makes for a capable starting swingman. Adding these two would mean you’re taking a chance on making a playoff run if you don’t believe in your backcourt.
Once again, I don’t see the Pelicans or any other team willing to pull the trigger in reality.
But for the sake of our wildest dreams and fantasies, I’ve dug into the NBA Trade Machine to create some wishful thinking trade ideas.
Howard to the Pelicans
Pelicans get:
Dwight Howard, Tim Hardaway Jr.
Hawks get:
Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, Omer Asik
If the media didn’t have so much stock in what Dwight Howard used to be, I think there’s a world in which this trade could occur, and would actually help the Atlanta Hawks.
The win/loss projection has the Pelicans gaining 9 wins and the Hawks losing 9. I don’t see that happening for the Hawks in the underachieving Eastern Conference by adding two capable starters to their backcourt that desperately needs an upgrade.
The Pelicans would add a 2-guard scorer in Hardaway and a dominant defender of the boards in Howard, taking pressure off Anthony Davis on the defensive side. A Howard-Davis combo would make the Pelicans slower, but they’re not very fast to begin with, making the Pelicans a grind-it-out and grit-your-teeth team.
For the Pelicans, it’d be a worthwhile experiment. And maybe I’m crazy, but I like the Hawks chances a lot better without Howard versus the Cavs, though I’d still take the Cavs anyway.
Barnes to the Pelicans
Pelicans get:
Harrison Barnes, Seth Curry
Mavericks get:
Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield
This is really actually a trade of Barnes for Hield. The media narrative is that Barnes isn’t a great player, but he is good starting rotation piece.
The Mavericks are losing regardless and are in complete rebuild mode. If the Pelicans don’t have complete faith in Buddy, they might be able to move him for a quality small forward, which is the Pelicans most glaring deficiency.
For the Barnes detractors, his Mavericks season is verification that at the very least, Barnes is a starter in the NBA.
The win/loss projection has the Mavericks losing 13, which I didn’t know was possible considering how bad the team is already. The Pelicans would win 7 more but I don’t see Barnes and Davis carrying the Pelicans back into an 8th seed.
Nurkic and Barton to the Pelicans
Pelicans get:
Jusuf Nurkic, Will Barton
Nuggets get:
Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans
Ironically the two most valuable assets not named Davis in New Orleans are on one year contracts. Holiday and Evans are the best players for the Pelicans to move because they’d be foolish to resign Evans and Holiday will likely want too much for what he’s worth (see Mike Conley).
This is the Pelicans opportunity to get younger and start properly rebuilding around Davis in a real prospect like Nurkic.
The Nuggets are flirting with the 8th seed which is currently in possession of the shaky Trailblazers. Holiday is an upgrade over Mudiay and Evans can fill the Barton role.
The win/loss projection has the Pelicans losing 2. The Nuggest would lose 5!? I’m beginning to think Evans and Holiday have something to do with it and the computer may be right… but I have to sell you on something don’t I?
Klay Thompson to the Pelicans!?
Pelicans get:
Klay Thompson
Warriors get:
Buddy Hield, Alexis Ajinca, Solomon Hill
Alright, I’m getting ridiculous here. Let’s say the media narrative comes true and Klay Thompson becomes the Hawkeye of the Warriors assembled Avengers.
Ajinca is not the big man the Warriors need, but having Zaza and Asik would just be toxic on the eyes. Solomon Hill can take some minutes off Iggy’s plate. Hield is the most intriguing piece and would be the key asset to the Warriors.
A Pelicans starting lineup with Thompson might warrant an 8th place playoff run if Thompson is a good second option to Davis.
The win/loss projection has the Pelicans adding 5 and the Warriors dropping 3.
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There’s a world where the Pelicans could trade for the Wizard’s Bradley Beal and it would make sense, but I don’t want to disrespect the Pelicans medical staff like that.
