Subscribe
Follow Us
The New Orleans Pelicans have had an underwhelming first quarter of the NBA season. There were massive expectations for this squad, as they were considered prime and ready to go into the postseason. Unfortunately for Pelicans fans, many things have gone against them. Among others, the most relevant one was the constant uncertainty about Zion Williamson. His injury and weight issues are now well documented. As the Pelicans really need some help, here are two players they simply must pursue before the 2022 NBA trade deadline.
Pelicans trade targets
Buddy Hield (Sacramento Kings)
It is clear that the Pelicans simply need offense. Right now, the squad is ranked 25th in offensive rating. Beyond that, they are 27th in three-pointers made, 24th in three-pointers attempted, 25th in field goal percentage, and 21st in overall three-point percentage. These numbers are abysmal and they need a big boost in the attacking side. Jonas Valanciunas and Devonte' Graham did somewhat help, but that is not enough. If the Pelicans want instant offense, they should really bring back Buddy Hield.
When it comes to widely available players, Hield is the best offensive tool outside of Irving, whose availability is somewhat unknown. The former member of the Pelicans, included in the trade for DeMarcus Cousins in 2017, is a player that offers both instant help and All-Star potential. He is somewhat underutilized in Sacramento. The Kings generally do not have a clear idea of what they want to do with their stacked guard rotation and it is visible that they need to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
Hield is in a specific situation. He is considered less valued than De'Aaron Fox, and has a worse potential than Tyrese Haliburton, which makes him the prime candidate for a trade. If he wants a setting in which he can thrive, the Pelicans would be the ideal one. He can immediately fill out some of the gap Williamson is leaving by being out of the squad. Additionally, Hield can be a member of the rotation for the future, as he is only 29 and is entering his prime.
The Pelicans should not be bothered by his dip in efficiency. As mentioned above, the Kings are generally without a clear plan for their guards, so naturally, they will not play to their highest potential. In a different setting, Hield should be able to return to his best. That is still not ideal, as his best shooting percentage was around 46% in the 2018-19 season, but as the old saying goes, beggars cannot be choosers. The Pelicans only have eight wins in 28 games, so they really need any boost right now.
Jusuf Nurkic (Portland Trail Blazers)
Another issue the Pelicans currently have is rebounding. While they are pretty good at offensive rebounding, the Pelicans are only 22nd in defensive rebounding. When that is paired up with the shocking 27th place in blocks, it is clear that the Pelicans need a real presence in the middle. Right now, the best possible player that is somewhat available is Jusuf Nurkic.
The Bosnian Beast is having an up-and-down season with the Blazers. He is far removed from the bubble, where he had the best games of his NBA career, but that does not imply he is useless. He still averages a solid 10.3 rebounds per game and can provide a ton of defensive presence in the paint. His numbers are better than last year, but the Pelicans really need him to channel that bubble performance, where he dominated on both sides of the floor.
The Bosnian is also widely considered to be the least valued part of the Blazers core and with an impending end of his contract, the Blazers really need to trade him and exert some value. The Pelicans could jump in and get a solid option underneath the basket for pennies on a dollar. It would be a risk, as he is still not reaching his best potential and he could leave for free in the summer. Still, it would be a worthwhile attempt to address some issues that they have in New Orleans.
Nurkic also brings some limited offense to the table. He has recently started to ramp up his three-point shooting and he is generally a solid player in terms of finishing around the basket. He can clean up offensive and defensive boards and get his points through second-chance opportunities. Again, he is not the ultimate answer to all of the questions the Pelicans have right now but is a solid band-aid to the wound the squad from Louisiana has.
