Top 3 Trade Targets Still In Play For Pelicans
New Orleans, La.- The NBA's trade deadline is less than 24 hours away. The New Orleans Pelicans have reportedly been in contact with most of the suspected sellers in the market but the front office is still being patient and playing its cards close to the vest. Thankfully, the NBA's top trade targets are all still realistic options since only the Dallas Mavericks have made a serious move.
Making a move means some roster shuffling. As Larry Nance Jr. explained after beating the Atlanta Hawks, “There’s nobody on our team that the other team doesn’t value. And this is a value league. Getting moved, nobody—I shouldn’t say nobody, very few want to get moved but especially the young guys on this team specifically. Like we have guys who people value and guys who people want so if you are to be moved, it’s a to a team that has a plan for you, and you know, a good situation. Like me in Portland last year, I got moved to a team that valued me and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
So what's the plan?
Apr 5, 2022; Sacramento, California, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) celebrates with guard CJ McCollum (3) after scoring against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
I'm of the opinion that a home run move is not a necessary part of the short-term plans for New Orleans. Neither is overpaying for a non-All-Star like OG Anunoby. The Mavericks have been searching for a second star to play next to Luka Doncic for years. Mark Cuban feels the pressure to build a true contender before the All-World talent issues a trade demand.
The Pelicans have Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram locked up on max-level five-year contracts. They are nowhere nearly as desperate to shake things up. Unless Kevin Durant is available, the Pelicans should save most of their draft capital for another move down the line.
Dodson's Top 5 Trade Targets
1. Lauri Markkanen is 25 years old and under contract for around $18 million a year through the 2024-25 season. The first-time All-Star is averaging a career-best 24.9 points on 52% from the field, 43.2% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free throw line. Add in the 8.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game and the Finnish star has to be the top option.
The Jazz are 27-27 and sitting in the 10th spot. They need to start the tank in earnest with an eye toward their 2023 first-rounder. Markkanen is the only All-Star besides DeMar DeRozan available now that Kyrie Irving has been dealt. His contract, skills, and overall fit with the roster are better than Anunoby's.
Markkanen has played off the ball for most of his career with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. Point Zion with McCollum, Ingram, Murphy III, and Markkanen would be a devastating attack worthy of a luxury tax bill.
Dec 15, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) shoots over -New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) in the first half at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
The Deal: The Pelicans would send Willy Hernangomez, Jaxson Hayes, Kira Lewis Jr., the rights to Karlo Matkovic, and Garrett Temple plus three draft picks or swaps with only one protected. Utah would waive Temple, then flip either Hernangomez or Lewis Jr. for another pick.
2. Gary Trent Jr. (24) is just entering the prime of his career and can be locked up to a long-term deal this summer. He has started 38 games this season (10 off the bench) and is averaging a career-high 18.7 points while shooting 44.7% from the field and 37.3% from three-point range. Trent Jr. can create his own shot and hold down the PG spot on defense.
The Deal: New Orleans would send salary filler back for Trent Jr.'s expiring contract. Considering Toronto will lose him for nothing in free agency, Devonte' Graham, Jaxson Hayes, Kira Lewis Jr., a protected first-round pick in a few years, and a spare second-rounder should get the deal done.
3. Alex Caruso is the blue-collar glue guy every contender needs to employ. He averages just 5.7 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game but Caruso does all the little things that don't show up on a stat sheet but help teams win. The 28-year-old's defense (almost 2 steals per game) alone can make an opposing team alter its game plan.
Caruso is under contract for the rest of this season plus two more at just under $10 million per season. The former Laker has an NBA Finals ring to show the locker room and leads the league in the catch-all metric defensive RAPTOR, per FiveThirtyEight. Caruso is the second-best in defensive estimated plus-minus, per Dunksandthrees.com.
The Deal: One first-round pick, top-4 protected. Two second-round selections. Garrett Temple, Jaxson Hayes, and one of either Jose Alvarado, Willy Hernangomez, and possibly Kira Lewis Jr. if Coby White or Andre Drummond head back to the Big Easy.
Honorable Mentions: Naz Reid, Isaiah Hartlestein, Bones Hyland, Jordan Clarkson, Jarred Vanderbilt, Bojan Bogdanovic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Grant Williams, Kelly Olynyk.
Every one of the nine honorable mentions can help the Pelicans this postseason and would have a tailormade role waiting for them in New Orleans. The Pelicans can mixed-bag package of Graham, Temple, Hayes, and Lewis Jr., plus send a first-rounder for any of the honorable mentions and I'd be fine with it.
Two first-round picks are probably too much, especially if a team asks for Jose Alvarado, Naji Marshall, or Willy Hernangomez. Again, throw in some second-rounders and Matkovic's rights if needed.
Those last three reserves (Alvarado, Hernangomez, Marshall) have proven to be very valuable to the team considering their contracts and how they stepped up when injuries decimated the roster. However, if an upgrade to an upper echelon 20-25+ minutes playoff contributor can be had, one or two of those fan favorites will have to be dealt away.
There are only so many minutes to go around and keep everyone happy. Just ask Hernangomez, who has expressed frustration at a lack of playing time on social media. That's why a consolidating trade to upgrade the playoff rotations makes the most sense, even if it costs an extra pick or fan-favorite reserve.
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