VP Says Pelicans "Open-Minded" To Significant Moves This Summer
Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said during the team's exit interviews that the front office expects more "tweaks" than "huge moves" this summer. However, the New Orleans Pelicans front office is "open-minded" going into the summer. They'll have to be considering the speculation around several All-NBA stars.
For example, both Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic have made recent headlines for speaking out in a way that seemingly put pressure on their respective front offices. There will be more players airing out frustrations as they are eliminated from the NBA Playoffs. The Pelicans just have to decide at which price point they are shopping.
Apr 8, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) points to center Dwight Powell (not pictured) after Powell scores against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Griffin bragged that even though 16 teams are still alive in this year's title race, 27 teams would swap rosters and staff with the Pelicans right now if the only factor was future seasons. Maybe you argue a couple of teams, but he has a point. This young, deep squad was fighting for first place around Christmas and has more draft capital than it has roster spots.
"We’ve seen enough to know we’re close. We’re in and around it. I think it is tweaks more than it is huge moves. But I also know we’re open-minded if something significant has to happen," Griffin explained during exit interviews.
Luka and Dame would be significant. It helps that the front office has enough leverage to play hardball considering the team's record when healthy. They're not desperate by any means and also have recent history on their side should any team want to negotiate for a Rudy Gobert-type of trade package.
Big Moves That Keep B.I. In NOLA
The Phoenix Suns gave up Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges plus four first-round picks for Kevin Durant. Brooklyn also got a pick swap and two second-round picks. The Pelicans learned the hard way that swap options do not always convey.
However, the Suns kept their seasoned Big 3 of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton. Cleveland did the same with their young core, essentially sending three first-round picks, Lauri Markkanen, and Collin Sexton to Utah for Donovan Mitchell.
Those two examples give Griffin a platform to argue age does not matter much in this equation either. Contract status is more of a factor. That's why Dallas got Kyrie Irving for so cheap (Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, one first-round pick, two seconds).
Apr 5, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) reacts to a foul on Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) that makes him go out the game during overtime at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Phoenix has Durant under contract for three more seasons after this NBA Playoffs run. Luka and Dame are inked for three more years for Dallas and Portland. Both have options past that but are likely to have contract extensions in place well before those contract deadlines approach.
Matching salary without including Brandon Ingram in a deal would not be a problem. Jonas Valanciunas ($15.4M), Larry Nance Jr. ($10.3M), Garrett Temple ($5.4M), and two prospects on rookie deals do most of the work. Dyson Daniels and Kira Lewis Jr. make just under $6 million each next year.
Temple's non-guaranteed salary would be waived and at least one player would be re-routed to a third team for extra picks. It's how Nickeil Alexander-Walker wound up in Minnesota, getting minutes in the playoffs while the Pelicans watch from their vacation homes.
Granted, a bigger name might be needed to land a star. That means either adding more draft assets to rope in a third team or, well, CJ McCollum ($35.8M) just shared with Andscape that this has been "the most difficult season I've been a part of mentally."
Fresh off a new CBA deal, perhaps the soon-to-be 32-year-old President would rather leave this project to the younger players. The only concern would be the other players included and any re-routing of them to other teams. The Pelicans can outbid almost anyone from a draft asset perspective, but do they want to hit reset on the CJ experiment and empty their draft war chest?
Mar 21, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) reacts to a play with guard Josh Richardson (2) against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans could offer five first-round picks and still have five first-rounders left over. However, they have only a couple of second-round picks between now and 2029 due to the Josh Richardson trade.
It will be very hard to trade any second-round selection thanks to some protections and/or swap options in 2024, 2026, and 2027. Until those are settled, the assets have very little actual value on the trade market.
Players Making Case For Standing Pat
From the top down, everyone in the building believes in the team as it is currently constructed. Griffin and head coach Willie Green spent most of their exit interview time saying as much in different ways. It's not hard to judge the "two different seasons, when we were healthy and when we were not," according to Griffin.
Green is "extremely proud" of this group and how this locker room "handled adversity." Coach knows with a healthy roster he can deliver an NBA Playoffs series win to the city of New Orleans with this core.
Trey Murphy enjoys how coach Willie Green, "has been there for us...I feel he's been very helpful for us because of how hectic and chaotic this season was...We were number one in the West at one point."
Even if the team sticks to small tweaks, "there is a number one seed in the locker room" according to Larry Nance Jr., and a small sample size this season.
Griffin added fans can rest assured knowing that even if the team sticks to small tweaks, “The core and the nucleus of what we have here is very, very good. We haven’t seen it play enough minutes together to say, ‘Yes, this is a championship-caliber roster.’ It’s a really impressive group of players and human beings.”
Regardless of what has happened in the past or is happening on the periphery, Griffin explained, "We have something very, very few teams have when you look at our ability to move forward and grow from here. We have a chance to be special good. What’s going to get us to this point is we have to learn from these moments from what we didn’t do well enough.”
This applies to both the on- and off-court decisions of the team. The front office is open to a deal. It'll be six months before fans get to see who is donning the jersey on Opening Night.
Read More Pelicans Scoop Articles:
- 5 Games Pelicans Regret Letting Slip Away
- Fans Can Expect New Look Coming Soon
- Off-Season Dates To Remember
- CJ McCollum Scheduling Surgery For Next Week
- Larry Nance Jr. Politely Slams Skip Bayless On Twitter
- Pelicans Forgot About Jonas Valanciunas In Lost Season
- Zion Addresses Injury Issues Head-On After Practice
