New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans had their struggles at the beginning of the year, going 8-21 through the first month-and-a-half of the regular season, but the New Orleans Pelicans have been playing better basketball as of late and are right behind the Portland Trail Blazers in the standings now.
The status of Zion Williamson this season is definitely in question and with New Orleans wanting to win games right now, they are going to have to be “buyers” at the trade deadline to have any shot of making the playoffs.
CJ McCollum has been linked to the Pelicans in recent weeks, as Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer wrote recently that New Orleans could possibly explore opportunities to send Jonas Valanciunas and Josh Hart to Portland in a deal for the Blazers’ guard.
Brandon Ingram has been having another solid season with the Pelicans, even though he has missed a handful of games due to injuries, but he is the only high-level talent on this team with Zion Williamson injured.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pelicans Could Trade For Blazers’ Norman Powell, CJ McCollum?
Jonas Valanciunas has stepped up a lot this season at center for the New Orleans Pelicans are ranks fourth in the league in double-doubles, but the team does have Jaxson Hayes and Willy Hernangomez in their frontcourt as possible replacements should they look to move Valanciunas at the deadline.
Pairing CJ McCollum with Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson gives the New Orleans Pelicans a “Big 3” to build around for the foreseeable future, as well as the backcourt piece that they are currently missing.
After trading Jrue Holiday to the Bucks ahead of last season, the Pelicans were left with virtually no primary ball-handler and no consistent play from their guards. Signing Devonte’ Graham from the Hornets this past offseason was an important move for New Orleans, but they have still been missing production in their backcourt.
Since the start of the 2019-20 season, McCollum has been averaging 4.5 assists per game and has proven to be a very strong facilitator given his 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio in this same timespan.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pelicans Could Trade For Blazers’ Norman Powell, CJ McCollum?
Being a high-level shooter and someone who can take an enormous amount of pressure off of Ingram to have to make every single play for this offense, CJ McCollum is the perfect trade target for the Pelicans leading up to the trade deadline this season.
Having plenty of draft assets to leverage as well, the New Orleans Pelicans should have no problem putting together an enticing offer for the Portland Trail Blazers.
