The offseason is a time of speculation and anticipation with trade rumors swirling around the NBA's 30 front offices. The days going into the NBA Draft are usually ripe with speculation, smokescreens, and eventually a few deals get filed with league headquarters. There is always one trade that catches everyone off guard but many are signaled months in advance. The New Orleans Pelicans (Brandon Ingram) and Atlanta Hawks (Trae Young) are both shopping former All-Stars and have been linked together for a while.
The clock is ticking on the Pelicans and Brandon Ingram to find a compromise. The Pelicans can always get creative with a new contract for Ingram. Then again, the idea of New Orleans pursuing a trade with Atlanta revolving around Dejounte Murray has been hot and cold for months dating back to before the trade deadline. Nailing down who exactly the deal will be built around is the hang-up.
The Pelicans need interest in Ingram to pick up to acquire another All-Star, sure, but the Hawks have yet to decide between Young or Dejounte Murray as their main offseason trade asset beyond the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. But truth be told, New Orleans needs to put on a full-court press for Young's services. Here are three reasons why:
1. Age, offense, and All-NBA status matters
The Pelicans have to push for All-NBA talents like Trae Young before settling for older one-time All-Stars in return for Brandon Ingram. Sure, De'Aaron Fox would be a better option than Murray or Darius Garland. Young should top the charts when it comes to who to target with the most effort. Age and All-NBA team status matter when measuring how much mileage a front office can gain with a big move.
Just compare the market's top five lead guard options who will be under 30 years old when the 2024-25 season tips off:
- Darius Garland: 24 years old – 18 ppg, 6.5 apg, 2.7 rpg
- 4 seasons – $163.22 million – All-Star (2022)
- Trae Young: 26 years old – 25.7 ppg, 10.8 apg, 2.8 rpg
- 3 seasons – $137.99 million – All-Star (2020, 2022, 2024)/All-NBA Third-Team (2022)
- De'Aaron Fox: 27 years old – 26.6 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.6 rpg
- 2 seasons – $71.94 million – All-Star/All-NBA Third-Team (2023)
- Mikal Bridges: 28 years old – 19.6 ppg, 3.6 apg, 4.5 rpg [TRADED to NYK]
- 2 seasons – $48.2 million – All-Defense First-Team (2022)
- Dejounte Murray: 28 years old – 22.5 ppg, 6.4 apg, 5.3 rpg
- 3 seasons – $80.34 million – All-Defense Second-Team (2018)/All-Star (2022)
EVP David Griffin needs to accumulate more political capital with the next big decision, not spend more just for fans to be unsatisfied with the return. Garland is a 6-foot-1 defensive liability with limited offensive upside in New Orleans. Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and CJ McCollum would be ahead of Garland, Bridges and Murray on offense. The team would need to pivot to focusing on a starting big man or a wing upgrade if it comes down to missing out on Young or Fox.
Ownership is paying attention when it comes to fan friction and extra expenses during Williamson's next contract. Going for a home run in Young and striking out due to unforeseen circumstances is better than treading water amid the Western Conference's rising competitive tides. It might also be the only way to keep the franchise's second most important person behind Gayle Benson happy.
2. Zion Williamson's Pelicans need all-world talent
Acquiring CJ McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. was a signal of competitive intent during some dark times between the Pelicans and Zion Williamson. Just being competitive might not be enough to keep everyone happy over the coming years though. That's why EVP David Griffin used the word “urgency” when discussing this summer's coming roster upgrade attempts.
Sticking with the status quo was acceptable last summer. It's senseless going forward. The front office has enough of a sample size to see there needs to be a shakeup. Williamson needs real All-NBA help that wants to be in New Orleans to lead the Pelicans on a postseason run. No offense to Ingram or McCollum but neither may get many All-Star votes from players, media, or coaches for the rest of their respective careers.
And, if there is fire behind the mutual interest smoke, the Pelicans kind of have to make this happen right? Small markets do not get these opportunities often, perhaps once a decade if lucky. Trae Young is a three-time NBA All-Star (2020, 2022, 2024) who has made an All-NBA Third Team (2022). The Oklahoma alum averaged 25.7 points, 10.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 54 games for the Hawks last season. That's the floor for Young's next five-year window but his career has seemingly run its course in Atlanta.
Coincidentally, New Orleans is in dire need of a top-tier point guard. While the Pelicans have a solid Play-In Tournament team assembled now, the addition of a dynamic leader like Young could elevate them into NBA Finals contention conversations immediately.
3. Betting on all-in championship philosophy
“You're either all the way in or all the way out. There is no in-between.”
Those were Griffin's words to Anthony Davis in 2019. They are a clarion call for Griffin to make a change five years later. Trading for Young would require a significant financial commitment but the Pelicans have the resources to make it happen. With careful planning and strategic moves, they could potentially accommodate Young’s contract while maintaining a balanced roster.
Griffin's rework front office would also be making a statement about their ambitions. Swapping Young for Ingram while rounding out rotations would send a clear message to the rest of the league: These Pelicans are serious about contending for the championship. New Orleans basketball fans could start reaping the rewards of sowing a “sustainable championship culture” as Griffin worded it during an introductory press conference.
Sure, acquiring Young would involve financial risks and injury maintenance challenges but the potential benefits could far outweigh any negatives from making an attempt. On the other hand, settling for an average-at-best return on the Ingram investment would be selling next season's locker room short. Griffin cannot go down that path and expect to get another contract extension. He might get to cycle through another coach with the right roster reconstruction around Williamson.
Foundations of negotiations set
The market has been reset with the New York Knicks getting Mikal Bridges. The Brooklyn Nets received Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031), a 2025 protected first-rounder via the Milwaukee Bucks, a 2028 unprotected pick swap and a 2025 second-rounder from New York.
A package for Young starts with Ingram and Larry Nance Jr. to get the finances close. The 21st pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the 5-30 protected 2025 pick from the Milwaukee Bucks, swap rights with the Bucks in 2026, and at least two future picks plus two swaps round out the draft compensation.
The Pelicans will most likely have to add Dyson Daniels and Jordan Hawkins or add up to three pick options to protect Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III. Talks should end when Atlanta asks for both Jones, Murphy III, and the 2025 Los Angeles Lakers first-rounder. There is a price too high to pay, even for New Orleans.
This is a bold move that could potentially transform New Orleans into a Western Conference powerhouse. Even if the Young-Williamson pairing fell short of the NBA Finals next season, just winning an NBA Playoffs series would be enough to celebrate. There are not many other trade options that help carry the team to those heights. For Griffin's job security alone, the Pelicans should make a strong approach for Young this summer before considering any other deals.
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