New Orleans Pelicans
With Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, the future seems like it would be bright for the Pelicans, but there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this franchise. They fired Stan Van Gundy after one season as coach and now there are NBA trade rumors floating around that Williamson’s family do not want him in New Orleans long-term.
Moves need to be made quickly by this organization to ensure long-term success, which is why they need another high-level talent that they can utilize next to Ingram and Williamson. Lonzo Ball is a free agent that could sign elsewhere this offseason, which is why targeting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, if he is available, is a must for New Orleans.
The Pelicans biggest struggle this past season was finding offensive production outside of Zion and Ingram, which is why they need a guy like SGA. He can not only help improve them as a three-point shooting team, something they ranked close to last in during the regular season, but he can be just as great of a facilitator as Lonzo Ball was this past year.
A sign-and-trade involving Ball is definitely not off the table, but the Pelicans also have young talents in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaxson Hayes and Kira Lewis Jr. that they could look to leverage in potential trade talks surrounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
READ MORE: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Lillard, SGA and Lowry
New Orleans and Oklahoma City have done business before, as the Pelicans acquired Steven Adams last offseason, so these two franchises are no stranger to one another. The Pelicans need to improve this offseason and targeting SGA gives them the immediate ability to do so.
