The trade that will absolutely, 100 percent save the New Orleans Pelicans
Six. Percent.
After one of the most miserable years a sports city has experienced in a long time, the sports gods decided New Orleans deserved a break.
Maybe some combination of NFC Championship referees, Sean McVay, LeBron James, Rich Paul, and Magic Johnson tipped some sort of cosmic scale in favor of the Pelicans on Lottery night, or perhaps the ping pong balls just randomly aligned with a season long narrative that thrusted two organizations into complete chaos.
Whatever sense of reason or supernatural force made this happen, the Pelicans now have new hope in the form of a number one pick and, presumably, Zion Williamson. What looked sure to be an offseason of confusion and doubt, is now one of hope and, ultimately, options.
That second word is the key for New Orleans. Until last night, the Pels were all but forced into a corner, and all David Griffin (their new VP of Basketball Ops) could do was hope a team might offer him a king’s ransom for his disgruntled superstar who is too injury prone to risk playing into next season.
But, after winning the Zion lottery? They already have a king and the ransom.
A lot of thoughts have been thrown out there, some serious, some sourced, and others were offered tongue in cheek. New Orleans could flip Anthony Davis for more young pieces to build around their new savior, Zion. Conversely, they could choose to flip the number one pick for a star who can contribute next to AD right away and potentially convince him to stay long term. Personally, I think they should go the second route…
Why? Well, let’s just assume that the best case scenario is Zion becomes an elite two way player and perennial MVP candidate. How many years away are we from that moment? Is the rest of New Orleans’ financially inflexible roster built to support that time line? And, more importantly, do you know who’s already a perennial MVP candidate? Anthony. Davis.
In my historically supported opinion, potential is overrated. Few players live up to their potential, and even fewer players actually exceed that potential and become someone who can transcend the team concept and truly matter in this league. (The list might be as short as Durant, LeBron, Kawhi, Giannis, Harden, and Steph — and when healthy, Davis and Embiid.)
So why not retain the guy they already know can do that? Sure, he’s said he wants to leave and gave New Orleans a list of literally “29” teams, insinuating he’d legitimately rather play anywhere else but the bayou. But that’s before the Pelicans had options. Now, armed with the trade chip coveted by the entire league, the Pelicans have a chance to add themselves to Davis’s 29-deep list (seriously though, he’d be cool playing in Charlotte?).
Listen, I know AD already leaked that he wanted to leave within minutes of the lottery results, but David Griffin made it public that he was decidedly not in favor of trading Kyrie when Griff was in Cleveland. If he applies the same line of thinking in New Orleans, then there’s more than enough reason to think he may explore options that keep AD on Bourbon Street… or at least Bourbon Street adjacent.
So how would he pull this off? It wouldn’t hurt to hit up Washington about Brad Beal, maybe see if the Thunder would want to offload Russ and Steven Adams. But why start on the B-list? LeBron spent most of the season hoping to lure AD to LA, but what if the tables were turned? What if instead of hoping to get young assets to pair with Zion, the Pelicans offered a young superstar to reset the future of Showtime and reopen Laker Land while bringing the King to New Orleans?
I know it sounds bonkers, but we’re talking about the Lakers and Pelicans here! Los Angeles’ front office decision-makers have been about as sound and reliable as Ja Rule and Billy McFarland. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ convoluted organization has been reluctantly pieced together by the owner of the Saints, who cherishes the Pelicans the way Bezos gushes about a car wash he owns down the street from Amazon HQ.
So why not let the circus do what it’s here to do: entertain us.
What better way for New Orleans to get back at LeBron and Klutch Sports than to force them to setup shop in the Big Easy? I mean, isn’t that poetic justice? Isn’t this why the basketball gods gave the Pelicans this pick? (Because surely they don’t actually deserve to see Zion in that hideous jersey.) Don’t we deserve to have the second best player in NBA history be part of a team named after a waterfowl? This is meant to be, and I’m hoping, no, I’m freaking praying it happens. What’s more? This ridiculous idea may actually halfway make sense.
Think about it… If you’re Rob Pelinka, or Phil Jackson, or Jeanie Buss, or Bryan Shaw, or whoever’s running the Lakers right now, wouldn’t you at least listen? And if you’re David Griffin — literally the only person in that front office whose name I recognize — aren’t you at least confident that you can build a contender around LeBron again, especially if Anthony Davis is still on the roster?
What better way to keep AD from running to LA than to bring LA to him? Bron and The Brow, together at last, in Bobby Bucher’s backyard. This isn’t the trade the NBA needs, but it’s the one it deserves.
So what are we waiting for? I’ll send the Google Hangouts link! Wait, does Phil have Google Hangouts on his Blackberry 957? Doesn’t matter, I’ll talk to Griff’s assistant. He wasn’t given the budget for an assistant? No worries, we’ll just meet up at the WeWork office the Saints are renting for the Pelican’s staff. I don’t know how yet, but I’m committed to making this happen, and New Orleans should be, too.
“Pelican’s starting forward, LeBron James.” *Eyes Emoji*
Has a nice ring to it, right?
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