Subscribe
Follow Us
It is a very tough time to be a New Orleans Pelicans fan. The team that went nowhere after drafting Anthony Davis first overall looks to be replicating that scenario with one more injury-prone, potential-MVP franchise player in Zion Williamson.
The Pelicans are once again outside of serious consideration for the playoffs this season, despite adding Devonte Graham and Jonas Valanciunas over the summer. Williamson's ongoing absence has ruined New Orleans' plans for 2021-22. However, this team's issues don't start or end with Williamson alone. What's the Pelicans' biggest need at the 2022 NBA trade deadline? A defensive big man.
Pelicans 2022 NBA Trade Deadline Need
The Pelicans roster, even without Williamson, is still looking good—much better than their record suggests. Brandon Ingram was an All-Star two years ago, and even though his shooting numbers have yet to reach that peak, he's made key progress as a playmaker since then. Valanciunas continues to blossom offensively, averaging 18.3 points and 12 rebounds per game while emerging as a legitimate threat from beyond the arc. New Orleans also has Graham, Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, all of whom are enjoying solid individual seasons.
Article Continues Below
Still, the numbers suggest the Pelicans need a change. They're 25th in offensive rating and 23rd in defensive rating, per NBA.com/stats. One of the most damning statistics is the Pelicans ranking 27th in blocks per game, especially combined with opponents shooting the sixth-best field goal percentage in the league. Due to all of these reasons, the best way for New Orleans to chart a winning path forward is acquiring a defensive big man.
There are a couple of pathways the Pelicans could take here. Their best option might be going after Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks. Once a foundational building block in the Big Apple, Robinson has struggled after an impressive sophomore season in 2019-20, consistent health and playing time eluding him. He is a risky target because the Knicks would still need something in return for bidding their center farewell.
The Pelicans badly need that inside presence but finding it will cost them, especially if they want to go for Robinson. They need to take into account how much they would give up for what they are getting. It's difficult to ascertain their potential asking price for Robinson considering he's a free agent this summer, but it's doubtful they'd part with him absent getting at least one worthwhile asset back.
The Pelicans would be getting a good rebounder and potentially a great defender, but Robinson has still not shown that he will take another major leap forward Additionally, he will likely never be a hugely relevant offensive player and might be a very limited option on that end going forward. Still, his defensive and rebounding prowess should be enough for the organization for New Orleans to at least consider a Robinson trade.
Alternatively, they could go for a more experienced option at the deadline like Tristan Thompson, which would practically induce no risk. The Sacramento Kings big man is a long way from his peak, but would still provide the Pelicans with an experienced rim-protector and rugged rebounder on the interior. If the Pelicans want to push for a spot in the play-in tournament, Thompson is the way to go. The Pelicans would likely need just one second-round pick to get him from Sacramento, too.
