The Pelicans, who once touched the first seed in the Western Conference 30 games into the season, are now finding themselves in the play-in picture largely due to injuries that have kept Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram sidelined for 25 and 34 games respectively. This team was considered at some point a championship contender by a lot of fans with the team ranking top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, but production has fallen a cliff ever since the team's two best offensive players, along with the team's best defensive player, Herb Jones, missed significant stretches of games.
Trade deadline is approaching and the Pelicans are again rumored to be in the mix for the biggest names with the amount of first-round picks they have. The loudest name that has been brought up is OG Anunoby, whose contract contains a player option in 2024 and market price is reportedly north of three first-round picks. Windhorst proposed a trade package containing Dyson Daniels, a 6' 8" point guard with a high defensive ceiling, along with the 2023 Lakers first-round pick, which is likeliest to be the 8th overall pick in the upcoming draft. Meanwhile Bobby Marks came up with a steeper package for OG, one incuding Dyson, the Lakers pick, and Herb Jones.
It is puzzling why people outside the Pelicans fanbase don't seem to value the team's supporting cast a lot in trades. Herb has already proven his worth on this team last season and is still continuing to be the reliable perimeter defender this team needs. Trey has been the best kickout option for this team, shooting 39.2% on 5.5 attempts per game, and without him, barely anybody would be providing off-ball spacing in this offense. Dyson hasn't played a lot of games, but he delivered with his offensive control and defensive activity during the times Willie trusted him to be on the court, and is likely going to be called on the court during key guard matchups in the postseason. Naji and Jose have also earned themselves consistent rotation minutes with their offensive aggression, improved shooting, and defensive hustle.
The team's supporting cast has done exactly what a supporting cast should be doing; forcing turnovers, hustling on the boards, sharing the basketball, creating paint touches, cutting, and shooting on open looks, although it would be a big bonus if more of those looks would hit. This team was one of the best in the league when even only Zion and CJ out of the big three were healthy. Trading the pieces that have fit in the system and that have supported the team's offensive stars' strengths in exchange for a bigger name that may not reach the potential he desires to attain in this team and a name that may not be willing to play alongside the stars this team already has, can cause a big blunder for the front office.
This situation is also not as if Herb, Trey, Dyson, are all prospects who have their ceiling already past them, like most young players involved in trades do. The players in this Pelicans rotation are expected to still develop for years to come and the team is hoping to reap the benefits of being able to give them contract extensions a year before their rookie contract expires. Trading players we could have for six more years for players who could walk in two years is a way for this team to enter the loophole of struggling to find the right pieces around its stars.
The verdict for the Pelicans this trade deadline should just be to make the best out of the pieces who are actually tradeable, like Jaxson, Devonte', Temple, Kira, and a maximum of two protected first-round picks. Any player worth more than that would probably be either too good for less touches or too redundant in the rotation to be significant.
The only two main issues for this team currently is the lack of playmaking without Zion and BI, as well as the need for more outside shooting. Whoever the new addition might be must not add to the injury problems that this team already has, as the purpose of adding another dominant scorer/ball handler is to have someone create in games and minutes without one or both of Zion and BI, which is critical by the time the postseason comes. It would also be best if the team could add a player that can isolate and draw multiple defenders from beyond the arc and in the midrange, as the offense indeed becomes stagnant when CJ is the only player who can at times shake his defender.
Some players have uncertain futures in their teams and could be shopped before the deadline over contract disagreements. Jordan Clarkson reportedly turned down Utah's extension in January, and even with a breakout season, can value teams who can win now once he declines his player option in the upcoming free agency.
The Pelicans are said to be prepared to go deep into the luxury tax if the team proves to be good enough. JC can be a very trustworthy volume scorer off-the-bench or as a substitute for CJ/BI on absences or off-nights, as well as an off-ball floor spacer for Zion. The Pelicans can solve one of their flaws on the roster by potentially acquiring him, and it shouldn't cost a lot if contract extension talks with the Jazz still don't fruit any agreement. This is a more ideal scenario for the Pelicans to put themselves in rather than cashing in significant bench pieces for more expensive players.