If I Were In Charge Of The Pelicans
Some thoughts on how I would approach various problems this offseason
Everyone loves putting on their GM hat this time of year, so I thought I would formalize my thoughts all in one place. With the draft taking place this week, activity in NBA front offices should steadily climb from here through free agency. At the risk of getting outdated rapidly, here are my thoughts on a number of important agenda items on the Pelicans’ docket.
Organizing Principle
Every team needs an organizing principle. Making moves for the sake of making moves is a great way to end up out of the playoffs and devoid of assets. My organizing principle for the Pelicans would be to build around Zion Williamson to the fullest. Zion represents the best chance for this organization to win at the highest level. I am also of the belief that the window with Zion cannot be taken for granted. Zion has not been the healthiest player to date, and it is never a guarantee a player signs a third contract with their incumbent team. I aim to maximize the runway with Zion over the next 3 years. Every move or concept described here will be with this principle in mind. There is one important caveat - I do not aim to find perfection in one off-season.
Goals For This Summer
Asset replenishment. The Pelicans’ famed warchest has dwindled mightily. They are currently out of second round picks to trade until 2030. Additionally, while the Pelicans own all their future firsts and have some intriguing draft assets from both the Lakers and the Bucks, there isn’t great liquidity in those picks. One goal of mine this summer will be to secure more assets.
Salary flexibility. The Pelicans have not enjoyed moveable salary pieces over the past few years. Their money has largely been tied up in large contracts or rookie scales. This has made finding trade partners a challenge at times, especially given how close to the tax the Pelicans have operated. Adding pieces that can be moved around for upgrades will be important for future team building.
Improved guard play. I don’t think the Pelicans need to find THE long term answer at the guard position this summer. However, I think there needs to be at least a proof of concept put in motion. Finding a guard that can help maximize Zion or at least be a stepping stone to THE guy will help answer a lot of team building questions.
Ingram Trade
The Brandon Ingram trade will be the move that sets the stage for the next 3 years. The perfect trade has the ability to check all three boxes stated above. In order to accomplish this, the Pelicans will need to craft together a multi-team deal. They will need to borrow from Peter to pay Paul.
In my opinion, the Pelicans need to identify a trade partner that is asset rich and salary flexible, with a desire to get better. The list of teams that meet this criteria is short. The main ones that jump out to me are Utah, Houston, and San Antonio. I think to a lesser extent Philadelphia and Detroit are out there, but I have a hard time seeing them get deeply involved. The first three teams, however, have a surplus of draft assets and a lot of salary flexibility.
Here is where the dance gets exciting. In order for any of this to come to fruition, the opposing team has to want Ingram. I think there is a fair chance Utah and Houston meet this criteria. My goal would be to secure as much future draft capital as possible, in addition to some intriguing matching salary. Utah has future picks from Cleveland, Minnesota, and Los Angeles in addition to their own picks. They also have salary pieces such as Colling Sexton, John Collins, and Walker Kessler - who they are rumored to be shopping. Similarly, Houston owns draft capital from Brooklyn and has interesting young players.
After working through a trade that secures this future draft capital, I would turn my eyes towards Dejounte Murray primarily, but check in on Darius Garland as well. The goal would be to cobble together enough flotsam and picks to pry one of these guards away. Murray is listed as the primary target because I think he is the more gettable of the two at this juncture. A small aside on Murray - there is good reason to try and get any Murray deal done before the calendar year flips and his extension kicks in. A smaller salary number to match means a smaller dollar amount going back to Atlanta - a team that is staring down the barrel of the 2nd apron.
A sample trade here:
Reminder. This is a hypothetical trade. Don’t get caught up in the pick or player specificity. The broad strokes are as follows. The Jazz acquire Ingram for salary, 2 firsts, and 2 seconds. The Hawks shed an enormous amount of salary, pick up a good young prospect in the process in addition to 1 future pick, and one lotto ticket that is heavily protected.
Maybe this construct needs further balancing, but in this move, the Pelicans have accomplished all 3 goals laid out above. Note, the above construct takes place before July 1, which would make it unlikely, but it can be adjusted for the later date and accommodate Murray’s extension.
This is the kind of trade I would want to do with Ingram. I believe there are multiple different constructions with different teams that can accomplish something similar. The key here is these teams need to be asset rich and salary flexible in order to pull together something of this nature.
Other Small Pathways And Draft Talk
This is the exact right time to explore the market on Dyson and Hawkins. I’m not saying there is a pressing need to move them, but the Pelicans should absolutely gauge trade value. Neither player was a top 8 rotation guy for the team. Maybe they step into that role this coming season, but if there is potential for outsized value - the Pelicans need to look into it. Does Trajan Langdon have as strong opinion on one of these players? Perhaps a sharpshooter like he once was? I’d be very interested in Jalen Duren if that were the case.
I am intrigued by the idea of grabbing Clint Capela or Brook Lopez as stop gap bigs who are expiring salaries. I prefer Lopez to Capela, but the concept here is grab the contract and look to use it on Allen or a similar big at the deadline.
It’s worth exploring a trade back in the draft. The value in the 20s is incredibly flat. If there is not anyone you are in love with in that range, see if you can trade back and secure a future asset in the process. Indiana, Utah, and New York all strike me as teams with too many picks in this draft.
While we are on the topic of the draft, allow me to say a few things. The Pelicans have been linked to Yves Missi a fair bit. I am hoping he goes higher than their slot, because I don’t love the idea of a raw, non shooting single position big.
The other guy that seems to be slipping is Isaiah Collier. I really like Collier as a swing at 21, though I get the impression the team is split on him. The shooting issues are real and frankly the number of lead guards who cannot shoot grows smaller by the day.
I don’t expect Bub Carrington or Zach Edey to be available at 21. Much to my personal disappointment, Edey pulled out of the Pelicans workout late in the process.
I am a big fan of Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman. He is one of the draft’s older prospects, but his skills pop and are an incredible fit on any team. Particularly one as devoid of shooting as the Pelicans. Scheierman’s size at 6’7+, versatile shot making, excellent rebounding, and rapid processing speed make him a tailor made role player for this team. I compare him favorably to Cam Johnson at UNC as a prospect.
My second round favorites - Jonathan Mogbo, Isaiah Crawford, Adem Bona, and Jaylen Wells.