What this trade means for the Pelicans and Thunder
At this point in the season, the New Orleans Pelicans are just looking for ways to improve and continue building for the future. Making the playoffs is something that does not seem in reach anymore and while it is still feasibly possible that they sneak into the playoff conversation, it is a massive long-shot at this point.
Zion Williamson has not played at all this season due to recovering from offseason foot surgery, but the time is ticking for him as he will be entering the final year of his rookie contract next season. Should Williamson miss half of this season like he is trending towards doing, I am not so sure that the Pelicans go “all-in” and offer him a massive contract extension ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Keeping Zion needs to be a priority for this team, but it seems much more likely that the two sides will not be able to meet on a price before next season because the Pelicans are not going to want to pay Williamson like one of the best talents in the NBA if he has only played in around 120 games through his first three seasons in the league.
Much like John Collins’ situation with the Hawks this past year, we could see Zion become a restricted free agent in 2023, which is why the Pelicans need to try and surround him with as much talent as possible. Not to mention, they need to keep Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram happy and buying into this small rebuild.
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Devonte’ Graham, Jonas Valanciunas, Josh Hart, and Caris LeVert would be a fantastic group of secondary talents to put around two All-Stars in Ingram and Williamson in New Orleans. Plus, they would not really have to sacrifice much in this deal to get LeVert.
Jaxson Hayes’ minutes have been sporadic and with Valanciunas and Hernangomez at the center position, the Pelicans do not really need Hayes anymore. He will be in the final year of his rookie contract next season and not presenting much of a future in New Orleans, trading him for value now makes the most sense.
Milwaukee’s 2025 first-round pick also does not present much value not only because it is three to four years in the future at this point, but because the Bucks are a championship-contending team and will be for the next several years with Giannis. This is viewed as an end of the first-round type pick, bringing little value to a team like the Pelicans.
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Moving Tomas Satoransky to the Thunder also makes sense for the Pelicans because he is in the final year of his contract and is not really part of their rotation. In Oklahoma City, Satoransky may not play much, but they are still about $20M under the salary cap floor for the 2021-22 season.
Adding Tomas Satoransky brings them closer to this salary cap floor, a move that the Thunder are going to have to make at some point. Both the Pelicans and Thunder are looking to make moves to help set them up for future success and while there is not much of an upside in this trade for Oklahoma City, they need to be able to sustain financial success.
