New Orleans Pelicans
From 8-20 to now being 21-32, the New Orleans Pelicans have shown great improvements as the season has progressed and they are now the 10-seed in the Western Conference. Only making the playoffs in two of the last ten seasons, the Pelicans are looking to prove that they are an up-and-coming team.
Brandon Ingram has played at an All-Star-level once again this season, but without Zion Williamson, it is hard to envision this team reaching their full potential.
In order to clinch a spot in the play-in tournament and possibly the playoffs, the Pelicans are going to need to continue to surround Ingram with key talents.
While Josh Hart and Jaxson Hayes have stepped up at times this season and while they are both young talents, New Orleans is interested in moving both of them, along with veteran Tomas Satoransky, for another high-level scoring option, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Latest NBA Trade Rumors To Watch As Deadline Approaches
In recent weeks, the Pelicans have highlighted Portland’s CJ McCollum, Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes and Detroit’s Jerami Grant as key high-level talents to target ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Kings’ guard De’Aaron Fox is another name to keep an eye on given New Orleans’ need for a reliable point guard playmaker.
No matter who they target, the Pelicans are expected to do everything they can to add more talent to their roster and they certainly have a means to do so.
As mentioned, both Josh Hart and Jaxson Hayes are two young talents that could draw interest in trade talks over the next couple of days and the Pelicans also have a ton of draft capital.
Owning the rights to 12 draft picks through 2024, New Orleans could look to add another key scorer like McCollum, Barnes or Grant to their roster at the expense of other teams’ draft picks that they have acquired through the years.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Latest NBA Trade Rumors To Watch As Deadline Approaches
The Western Conference is weaker than usual, but if the Pelicans want to make the most of this season and be a formidable foe moving forward, then they need to try and add a reliable, high-level scorer ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
