The Lasting Impact & Grade Of This Trade For The Pelicans
David Griffin joined the New Orleans Pelicans organization in 2019 as the team’s executive vice president of basketball operations with one goal in mind – to build a long-term successful franchise with GM Trayjan Langdon.
So far, Griffin, Langdon and the Pelicans’ front-office have made some great moves over the years not only to build a sustainable core, but to set themselves up for future success given all of the future value they own.
With a ton of draft capital from prior trades involving Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans had plenty of assets to make a deal for CJ McCollum, their dream trade deadline target, come true.
Tomas Satoransky was an expiring contract that New Orleans was looking to deal ever since the Lonzo Ball sign-and-trade with the Bulls, Didi Louzada never offered much of a future to the Pelicans and the team had shown a willingness in the past week to move on from Josh Hart if it meant acquiring CJ McCollum from Portland.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pelicans Trade For CJ McCollum; Blazers Firesale Continues
Losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker could wind up hurting the Pelicans down the road given that he is a young talent that showed a lot of promise in this backcourt, but now, the Pelicans have three All-Star talents and two key secondary talents in their starting rotation.
At full-strength, the Pelicans will have Devonte’ Graham, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas in their starting rotation with Herb Jones, Jaxson Hayes and Larry Nance Jr. coming off-the-bench.
That is a really solid group right there that is not only athletic, but more than capable of holding their own against some of the better teams in the Western Conference.
CJ McCollum is older, but he still has plenty left in the tank and being under contract through the 2023-24 season, the Pelicans have nothing to worry about in regards to him leaving in the offseason.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pelicans Trade For CJ McCollum; Blazers Firesale Continues
Winning right now has been made a priority of the New Orleans Pelicans and they should be well on their way to earn a play-in tournament spot in the Western Conference this season at the very least.
GRADE: A-
