The NBA trade deadline is still two months away, but the unofficial start of the trade season has already passed. More than 70 free agents who signed with their teams in the offseason were eligible to be traded on Dec. 15. A few more All-Star caliber options will be available in January. However, it would be surprising to see the New Orleans Pelicans rush a trade early this offseason.
Only four deals were completed last January. New Orleans swung for the fences last year with deals near the deadline for C.J. McCollum and Larry Nance Jr., but they had to wait out the market. Still, the Pelicans needed to shake up the roster around Brandon Ingram in order to make the playoffs, and the deal with the Portland Trail Blazers worked out great.
Now, a front office led by David Griffin can navigate the NBA trade market from a strong position atop the Western Conference standings. They have more capital and financial flexibility around the luxury tax and salary cap than other contenders. Not only do the Pelicans have the best record, but they’re still waiting for Brandon Ingram to return from a toe rehab setback.
November 4, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) drives the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Cuminga (00) during the first quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
Market analysis. negotiate from power
There isn’t a lot of free cash or empty space in the trade market. New Orleans should not be outmatched in any bidding wars. It just matters how much they will have to overpay as a small market team with a lot of desirable assets.
The Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs have some cap space, but have yet to trade relatively close salaries. Teams like the Boston Celtics ($6.9 million and $5.9 million), Denver Nuggets ($9.2 million), LA Clippers ($9.8 million), Oklahoma City Thunder ($10.2 million and $4.2 million), Utah Jazz ($9.8 million, $9.7 million and $6.8 million). ) have major commercial exemptions.
However, there aren’t many players who can fill those spots. Top teams with NBA Finals aspirations only have so many minutes around their stars. How much would New Orleans be willing to give up just to find 12-15 minutes for a new rotation piece that might not see playoff time?
Enforcing the move is against the standard operating procedure of this office for the past several years. Reversing course now would jeopardize future resilience and the current organic, family culture that now permeates the building. These Pelicans are mostly a home team still learning how to play together. There’s no real pressure to break out one of the NBA’s youngest cores.
So let’s take a look at how the front office has found a way to transform the organization since 2019.
December 11, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) high-fives guard CJ McCollum (3) during the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
Griffin has used desperation from the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland in his last three trades. The Lakers needed Anthony Davis to keep LeBron James in contention for another ring. The Bucks needed a move for Jrue Holiday to show Giannis Antetokounmpo that Milwaukee is the right place to sign a new five-year contract. Portland needed to trade McCollum and Dame Lillard for a fresh start.
Those teams were obvious options to use in the deal. It will be harder to find a contender willing to do all the steps right now. The top teams in each conference have already made moves this offseason. Play-In locations can be a place to find value. The Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks make sense for several reasons.
Griffin’s Untouchables
Sometimes it’s easier to work backwards on a problem. First, figure out what you don’t want to do to get those issues off the table.
For example, Griffin shared during exit interviews that other teams were told Willie Hernangomez was intact in trade talks. Including the EuroBasket MVP in any deal was a non-starter. Hernangomez was too talented and under a good enough contract to simply not give up. His character was a big part of what kept the locker room going after a 1-12 start.
December 4, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives the ball against New Orleans Pelicans center Willy Hernangomez (9) during the second quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
Without hearing it directly from the front office, it’s safe to assume Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Jose Alvarado, CJ McCollum and Dyson Daniels are untouchable assets. According to Zion, Williamson and Ingram are “partners in crime.” Both All-Stars signed new five-year deals with no options to stay in New Orleans. The other four are promising picks from the previous two summers.
Everyone else is for sale, at the right price, even Jonas Valanciunas and Larry Nance Jr. Kyra Lewis Jr. might be the odd man out in putting the list together. The Pelicans need another wing and more versatility in the frontcourt.
The extremes between Nance Jr. and Valanciunas make it difficult to match up with the weirder teams that have had New Orleans’ number the past few years, like the Utah Jazz. However, they do not need to be sacrificed to change the shape of the rotation.
Najee Marshall and Devonte’ Graham are still in Willie Green’s good graces, but what they offer going forward is not only popular but also of limited playoff value. Marshall is a tough defender and Graham is a good tackle, but both are replaceable. Both have skills that would be welcome and given more time on other rosters.
Garrett Temple and Jackson Hayes barely play as is. Temple is on an expired contract. Hayes will soon be a cheap option in free agency. I have confirmed from multiple sources that the Atlanta Hawks have already inquired about Hayes several times. Better to sell low now than get nothing for Hayes this summer.
The NBA world knows what players the Pelicans have to offer. No front office is stupid enough to consider a trade for Brandon Ingram, not even for Kevin Durant. It’s an open secret that the ship has sailed, and not just because the Brooklyn Nets are starting to find a groove.
There are good arguments for the Pelicans not making a move at all. New Orleans doesn’t have to come out and make a move just to say it tried. The basis of this kernel is confirmed. There are a few surpluses to salary demands, but none that will hold the team back in the coming years.
The city has embraced this team throughout the roster. For the first time since winning a championship with LeBron James in Cleveland, David Griffin can approach the trade market from a position of strength atop the standings.
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