Charlotte Hornets Receive: G Lonzo Ball, NOP 2024 2nd Round Pick

New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G Malik Monk, LAC 2021 2nd Round Pick (via CHA), CHA 2022 1st Round Pick (Lottery Protected), BOS 2023 2nd Round Pick (via CHA)

Lonzo Ball can do it all on the court and while he ended the 2019-20 NBA season struggling, the New Orleans Pelicans will still want to try and maximize their payout in a trade that would send Ball to the Charlotte Hornets. Players like Devonte’ Graham and Miles Bridges would be off-the-table, but Malik Monk is definitely available and in need of a fresh start. 

In three NBA seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Malik Monk has played in 191 games, averaging 8.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and shooting 39.5% from the floor and 32.2% from deep. Nothing about Monk’s stats are impressive and he has struggled over the years but has a lot of potential to become a great “3-and-D” type player. 

He is a pretty agile and quick player, giving him potential to grow into a solid one-on-one defender, and was known to be a great perimeter threat during his time at Kentucky in college. During the 2016-17 college basketball season, Monk shot 39.7% from deep and was one of the better all-around scoring threats in the nation.

Since being drafted though in 2017, Monk has struggled with off-the-court problems, including a drug-related suspension last year. Since this suspension, Malik Monk has been doing everything he can to salvage his reputation and staff members of the Charlotte Hornets have been quite impressed with his turnaround and have high praise for his attitude. 

With Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson as the focal points of the Pelicans offense, providing shooting depth around them is key for New Orleans’ success, which is why bringing in a young, perimeter-threat in Monk makes sense. Not to mention, New Orleans has been stockpiling some draft assets and could get three more draft picks over the next three years in this trade.

Lonzo Ball does not seem to be a part of the Pelicans’ plans moving forward, especially after they brought in Eric Bledsoe and Kira Lewis Jr. this NBA offseason, which is why trading him for a young player with potential and draft picks would work out well for New Orleans. With that being said, let’s take a closer look as to why this trade would benefit both the Hornets and the Pelicans.