Comment Opinions Please. Are The Trades Fair? What Would You Do Differently? Don’t Forget To Check Out The Free Agency Signings, Draft Picks, & Season Goals Down Below.

Financials(Before Moves)

Cut Candidates: None

Total Salary: $152.3M

Cap Space: $-11.3M

Trade Candidates: Brandon Ingram

FA’s: Jonas Valanciunas, Naji Marshall, Matt Ryan, Cody Zeller

Targets: Resign Marshall and bring in the right depth pieces

Trades

Brandon Ingram to the Cavs for Jarrett Allen, Georges Niang, 2025 MIL SRP, 2027 DEN SRP & 2028 SRP (Darius Garland - Donnovan Mitchell - Brandon Ingram - Dean Wade - Evan Mobley)

NBA Draft

Select C Yves Missi With #21 Pick: Projected Salary - $2.7M

Free Agency

Resign F Naji Marshall to a 3 year Contract with a PO Worth $22.5M(7.5M-7.5M-*17.5)

Resign F Matt Ryan to a 2 year Contract Worth $3M(1.5M-1.5M)

Resign C Cody Zeller to a 2 year Contract Worth the Veteran Minimum

Sign G Patty Mills to a 1 year Contract Worth the Veteran Minimum

Sign Undrafted Player G Judah Mintz to a 2-Way Contract

Sign Player F John Butler to a 2-Way Contract

Decline Jeramiah Robinson-Earl TO

Financials(After Moves)

Total Salary: $164M

Luxury Tax: $7M Under

First Apron: $14M Under

Second Apron: $25M Under

Ideal Starting Lineup:

Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, & Jarrett Allen

Backup Five:

Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hawkins, Naji Marshall 🔄, Trey Murphy, & Yves Missi

Rest of Bench:

Judah Mintz*, Patty Mills, Matt Ryan, Georges Niang 🔄, & Cody Zeller

2024 Season Goals

Zion is really like that as the No.1 guy alongside a true point guard. Averages 26 PPG and makes his 3rd all star team. He also has a similar level of health as he did this year, playing at least 70 games.

Dejounte Murray plays well in a sneaky second option and averages similar stats to his last year in San Antonio. 22 PPG and 10 Assists while looking like an absolute steal of a trade. Also brings really good defence.

CJ McCollum plays really well as a reserved 3rd option off the ball. Averages ~18 PPG but is shooting career high efficiency and is also a veteran leader.

Jarrett Allen is a walking Double-Double and forms an elite Lob-City front court with Zion, along with being an elite rim protecter next to him. Something Zion has needed desperately and never really had

Herb Jones is a 40% 3pt once again and makes All Defensive 1st team

The Pelicans have elite depth off the bench headlined by their 6th and 7th men, Trey Murphy and Jordan Hawkins, both have great seasons.

Overall the Pelicans are an elite well-rounded team who are really competing in the west. Finish as the 5th Seed and win a Play-Off series.