Would this trade make sense for the New Orleans Pelicans?
The New Orleans Pelicans may be giving up a lot in this trade, but what they’re getting would help set up their franchise for many years. The big three of Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson would be a playoff team for the better part of the next decade.
Brown and Ingram would create a one-two punch that would be similar to the one Boston currently has. However, the Pelicans are so desperate to put premier-level talent around Williamson, that they might be willing to take a chance on the fact that it could work in New Orleans.
Giving up on Jonas Valanciunas would be selling high, as this is by far the best season of his career. The same can be said about Herbert Jones, who is having a phenomenal rookie season, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who has struggled with inefficiency.
They’d also be getting Aaron Nesmith in this deal, who is supposedly being made available by the Celtics. The second-year 3&D wing hasn’t gotten much playing time this season but showed a ton of potential as a shooter last year.
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A trade like this would gut the depth of the Pelicans, but it would give them an amazing foundation to build upon. That’s what they need to be focusing on as Williamson grows increasingly unhappy in the city (despite not playing a single game this year).