New Orleans Pelicans Receive: F Obi Toppin, G Alec Burks, 2022 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2023 First-Round Pick (DAL), 2024 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2026 First-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: F Zion Williamson
RJ Barrett is the most valuable young player the New York Knicks have. If they’re not moving him to New Orleans in a Zion deal, they’ll have to pony up with draft picks.
This is the most draft capital the Stepien rule will allow them to move. They can’t move first-rounders in consecutive years, and they don’t own a 2028 first-round pick. This trade still sets the New Orleans Pelicans up handsomely for the future.
Obi Toppin is no throw-in. He hasn’t broken out for the Knicks offensively over his first two seasons, but he has proven himself a surprisingly capable defender. He’s posting a 0.5 Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) over his career to date. If he can leverage his athletic tools into a more well-rounded offensive game, he’s got the potential to be a two-way force.
This trade is still mostly about the picks for the Pelicans. Four first-rounders (including one lottery selection) are a solid foundation. They could look to repurpose those picks for a win-now player who compliments Ingram or move Ingram to trigger a wholesale rebuild.
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None of which are dream scenarios for the Pels. This only happens if Zion Williamson demands a trade. No matter what, that would qualify as a nightmare.
