The New Orleans Pelicans had a tough go this year when they were bumped from the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder in a quick four game sweep. There were a lot of moments in the series where it looked like the Pelicans were just giving up. Two examples of this would be in game two, where the score was 124-92, and also in game three when the score was 106-85.
Clearly, it’s time for the Pelicans to make some changes. Here are some trade options that might give them the boost they need for a Finals appearance or at least a deeper playoff run.
Bring a Big Time Center to the Pelicans
This season, the Pelicans fell to 19th in rebounding. Jonas Valanciunas was the leader in rebounds, with 8.8 rebounds during the regular season. However, he’s not a major provider of points, averaging just 12.2 per game. It’s believed that New Orleans had some interest in Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen. This could be a major upgrade for the team as he averaged 16.5 points per game with 10.5 rebounds per game as well.
This doesn’t mean you should trade Valanciunas. He would be a very solid backup center to have, but he shouldn’t be the starter. A guy like Allen could run with Zion Williamson and catch quick passes to slam down some big-time dunks. To get Allen, the team would probably have to trade Brandon Ingram with the Cavs. It has been reported that the Cleveland team might be interested in Ingram, so this could be a great trade for NOLA to make.
A Point Guard Upgrade
CJ McCullom has been a great guard for the New Orleans Pelicans. However, he’s now 32 years old. He probably has a few more seasons left in him, but this team needs a young star to add to their guard position. This guard could be Trae Young. With the Atlanta Hawks trying to decide whether to keep Young or Dejounte Murray, it could give the Pels a chance to swoop in with a trade. However, it would most likely have to include both McCullom and Ingram.
Here’s why this works for both sides. The Hawks keep Murray, who’s been on a hot streak, and they get a veteran presence and a very strong small forward to go beside Onyeka Okongwu. The Pels would get their All-Star guard and should aim for a small forward to fill Ingram’s position. This leaves an opening to try and grab De’Andre Hunter, who has proven to be a strong player for his team. He also plays well with Young, so keeping them together is a plus.
Run It Back One More Time
In the time that these players have been together, the Pelicans either lost in the first round or didn’t make the playoffs. This isn’t great, but CJ McCullom was just added to the lineup in the 2021-22 season. He also was injured for the second half of the year. Yet, he still led them with points per game in the postseason with 17.8. Also, Zion didn’t play at all in the playoffs.
The point is that this team has a chance to do something next year. That’s probably not what fans want to hear, but it’s true. Give this group of legit stars one more chance to have a decent playoff run. This probably won’t happen since it’s been said that the Pels will be shopping Brandon Ingram heavily, but one more year could be what they need to get the job done.
About the Author
Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. She also loves writing about anything ranging from sports articles to short stories and poems. She hopes to one day write her own sci-fi series and adventure series. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
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