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The New Orleans Pelicans have traded Dante Cunningham to the Brooklyn Nets for Rashad Vaughn, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
New Orleans is trading forward Dante Cunningham to Brooklyn for guard Rashad Vaughn, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2018
This move appears to be a one that is financially motivated for both sides. Cunningham is on the last year of his deal and making only $2.3 million. His deal is an expiring contact, and looked at as an asset for other NBA teams.
Similarly, Vaughn is also on an expiring contract and making even less money — about $1.9 million this year. And he only plays four minutes per game and averages 2.6 points.
The Nets must have really wanted Cunningham on their roster. Perhaps he is a player the Nets feel will help them in the future. Cunningham is in his ninth year in the NBA and only averaging 5.0 points per game in about 22 minutes.
In light of that, it makes sense that the Pelicans let Cunningham go, as he is not a very productive player for them in the minutes he is given. But New Orlean's likely did not want to just give Cunningham away, so the front office asked for another expiring contract in return.
In that sense, the deal makes sense for both teams. The Nets get a player in Cunningham that will be part of that team's future, and the Pelicans save money this season while also keeping financial flexibility by getting an expiring deal.
It's not a trade that moves the needle for either team, or makes one a playoff contender, or anything like that. But it's a solid business transaction.
