“You are either all the way in or all the way out. There is no in-between.”
Those were EVP David Griffin's words after coming on to lead the New Orleans Pelicans. They were addressed to Anthony Davis in 2019 but apply to the front office now. Most of the team's trade chatter concerns Brandon Ingram but deals for CJ McCollum have to be considered. Now is the time to go all-in around Zion Williamson. Moving on from both supporting stars might be the best way to maximize value.
The Pelicans have gotten the best out of the deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. Swapping a now-2025 first-round pick, two seconds, Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, and Tomas Satoransky's contract for McCollum and Larry Nance has worked out well for Griffin. McCollum and Nance Jr. have had career years in the Crescent City.
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported on the outlet's podcast that McCollum is “not untouchable” this summer but is viewed as the “grown-up in the room…providing stability on the court and a good locker room presence for the team.” Now might be the best time to cash in though, especially for an organization that has never paid the luxury tax.
But how and with who replacing the respected veterans in the locker room? McCollum averaged 20 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 43 percent from beyond the three-point arc. That's near All-Star-level production going out the door in what could be a tight market given the new CBA.
Pelicans can buy low by bluffing Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are starting to come down significantly when it comes to the price for Zach LaVine. It might not take an All-Star or multiple first-round picks to pry LaVine out of the Windy City. His contract is near-toxic as far as smart front offices are concerned. This could be another opportunity for the Pelicans to leverage a desperate franchise to acquire an underappreciated asset with All-Star potential.
The going-on-33 McCollum served a purpose but has only two seasons left on his contract. The 29-year-old Lavine is locked up for three more years. This is seemingly a deal that makes sense if neither team can find a better trade partner. Griffin said to expect some urgency from the Pelicans during the off-season, so they have to do something to shake things up though, right? Bluffing the Bulls here would at least not require draft assets to be attached.
Calling it even with the Cavaliers
The Pelicans and Cleveland Cavaliers will be linked together all off-season. A McCollum and Darius Garland backcourt is just as small as the Dame Lillard and McCollum pairing in Portland. A McCollum for Garland swap clarifies the hierarchies in both New Orleans and Cleveland. It's not the sexiest or most creative of trades, but it's straightforward and simplifies a lot of the summer for both front offices.
The Pelicans would have their point guard and a clear understanding the job is to set the table for Zion Williamson. Those boundaries would be a bit more blurry should the Pelicans pursue an unsettled Donovan Mitchell over Garland, though.
Feeling out the Kings for Fox
The Sacramento Kings are reportedly trying to find a way to boost the supporting cast around Domantis Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox. It's unlikely to work in a stacked Western Conference. This move may have to wait until the trade deadline but the Kings will have to face the music if they haven't moved up into a top-six seed by the next All-Star break.
Pressing the issue now couldn't hurt though. The Pelicans are rebooting talks with Atlanta that started last January. Just make the Kings say no to a deal before settling for something else. If they ask for Brandon Ingram instead, that's a conversation worth having as well.
Follow Us
Subscribe