Deprived of Zion Williamson since the start of the season (and potentially for the entire duration of it?), the Pelicans are logically struggling to take off in the standings, they who are currently ranked 11th in the Western Conference (19 wins – 32 losses). Given their situation, the leaders of the franchise could be tempted to make adjustments in their workforce, by the trade deadline. In order to boost a clearly limited group to even hope for participation in the “play-in”.
Thereby, ESPN reports that New Orleans would have their sights on four players, likely to energize their rear drive. For now, there are Devonte ‘Graham, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple and Jose Alvarado, while Kira Lewis Jr. is already out for the rest of the year.
What consideration dropped by NOLA?
At the negotiating table, the Pelicans’ first target is CJ McCollum, mentioned in transfer rumors for several months and who could leave the Blazers at a turning point in the Damian Lillard era. Even if the acting GM of Portland assured that he did not foresee any major upheaval in the coming days…
Another player who could land in Louisiana: De’Aaron Fox, disappointing this season, while Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell have been showing great things for a few weeks. The 24-year-old leader, originally from … New Orleans, therefore no longer seems as untouchable as before, in California. Still it is necessary that the leaders of Sacramento, who say they are attached to their player, find their happiness in the roster of the Pels (or in that of another team, in the event of deal in a triangle).
Two additional leads, arguably easier to access, would also lead New Orleans to Kevin Huerter and Eric Gordon. For Kevin Huerter, it will probably be necessary to let go of a player capable of contributing immediately for Atlanta, in search of the playoffs but which has been gaining momentum for several days. For Eric Gordon, on the other hand, already passed through the franchise between 2011 and 2016, one or more draft rounds should be enough, with why not a promising youngster.
As it stands, it seems unclear what the Pelicans might offer to get players of the caliber of CJ McCollum or De’Aaron Fox back. Draft picks? Jonas Valanciunas? Devonte’ Graham? Josh Hart? Nickeil Alexander Walker? Jason Hayes? It is hard to imagine them in any case letting go of Brandon Ingram or Zion Williamson.
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Brandon Ingram | 37 | 34.3 | 44.3 | 34.9 | 82.2 | 0.8 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 5.2 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 22.5 |
| Jonas Valanciunas | 45 | 31.5 | 52.6 | 40.2 | 82.1 | 3.5 | 8.4 | 12.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 18.2 |
| Devonte Graham | 47 | 31.3 | 36.5 | 34.8 | 84.5 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 14.0 |
| Josh Hart | 40 | 33.5 | 50.5 | 32.3 | 74.7 | 1.3 | 6.5 | 7.8 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 13.4 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 48 | 26.6 | 37.3 | 31.1 | 73.1 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 12.9 |
| Herb Jones | 48 | 29.7 | 48.7 | 35.2 | 82.6 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 9.2 |
| Willy Hernangomez | 28 | 16.7 | 53.6 | 42.9 | 75.3 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 7.1 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 9.2 |
| Jaxson Hayes | 39 | 15.2 | 60.9 | 28.6 | 75.3 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 7.6 |
| Kira Lewis, Jr. | 24 | 14.2 | 40.4 | 22.4 | 83.3 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 5.9 |
| Garrett Temple | 49 | 19.9 | 38.2 | 31.9 | 71.8 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 5.7 |
| jose alvarado | 24 | 11.8 | 39.4 | 32.5 | 63.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 4.3 |
| Trey Murphy III | 37 | 12.8 | 33.1 | 34.3 | 87.0 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 4.0 |
| Jared Harper | 2 | 5.2 | 42.9 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
| Naji Marshall | 26 | 10.2 | 33.3 | 11.8 | 85.7 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
| Gary Clark | 19 | 10.2 | 38.8 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 2.9 |
| Tomas Satoransky | 32 | 15.0 | 29.9 | 16.1 | 76.0 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.8 |
| Didi Louzada | 2 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
