Why The New Orleans Pelicans Do The Trade
The New Orleans Pelicans are mortgaging off a sizeable portion of their future here. They’d better hope this is enough of an investment to pique Zion’s interests. A team built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ingram would be great, but they lose that future championship ceiling without Williamson.
On the plus side: this trade ought to pique Zion’s interest. It’s impossible to conceive of what more might keep him in New Orleans. Realistically, nothing could. If Williamson has eyes for New York and only New York, he needs to let the Pelicans know before they do something crazy like this.
Assuming they’ve got Williamson in tow, this deal is worth the investment. You don’t need draft picks when you’re contending. The Pelicans would be doing just that after making this deal.
It feels dirty to trade McCollum to a basement dweller having just acquired him. That’s showbiz. The Thunder would have no trouble finding a suitor for the talented off-guard.
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The Pelicans can’t afford to entertain moral quandaries with a deal for Gilgeous-Alexander on the table.
You take him, and you ask questions later.
