Should the New Orleans Pelicans consider trading their pick?

Draft picks are some of the most coveted assets in the NBA trade market. While the New Orleans Pelicans should look to keep control of their pick, they should not overvalue it either.

The New Orleans Pelicans are headed towards the trade deadline on February 18 with a multitude of questions. Ryan Anderson, the quintessential stretch four, is on an expiring deal and could put a contender over the top. The Pelicans will have to decided whether to extend him, let him play his contract out or move him for another asset.

The biggest question for the Pelicans, though, is whether or not their 2016 draft pick, which will most likely be in the top-10, is on the table or not for potential trade discussions. Without a doubt, draft picks represent a unique value for an NBA franchise, as it gives a team the ability to retain a player for four years on an inexpensive contract.

As pointed out in last week’s Debrief Debates, though, rookies rarely contribute at a high level right away. That is, if the pick ever pans out at all. When looking at the two drafts before the most recent one (it is too soon to really making any judgments about this class), the only players selected in picks 5-10 (where the Pelicans will likely find themselves) that are surefire building blocks are Nerlens Noel (still hurts) and C.J. McCollum. That’s it. Also, it should be noted that Noel required a full season to recover from injury before he made an impact and C.J. McCollum did not explode onto the scene until his third season.

Players like Julius Randle, Marcus Smart, Dante Exum and Elfrid Payton could develop into players a team would want to build around, but they have yet to show the abilities required to be the second best player on a team. On the other hand, players like Noah Vonleh and Nik Stauskas were drafted in that range, too. Both of those players are largely considered busts at this point, and they are no longer playing for the teams that drafted them.

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In the middle, there are quite a few solid players that have been drafted in that range, such as Alex Len, Ben McLemore, Trey Burke and Kentavius Caldwell-Pope. These guys are solid role players, but the pick with which they were selected was more valuable than the players themselves. If the Pelicans are trying to put a sidekick next to Anthony Davis, a solid player, a bust or a project isn’t going to cut it; they need production now.

With draft picks representing such value to so many franchises, should the Pelicans entertain the idea of trading their draft pick for proven talent that very well may outperform the player taken with the pick in question? The answer is not a clear cut yes or no, but it is one the Pelicans will need to answer.

In 2013, when the Pelicans traded two first round picks for Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans should have looked to put complimentary pieces around Anthony Davis through the draft so a young core group of players could grow together, much like Minnesota is currently attempting. Instead, the Pelicans traded for proven talent, and the move has largely been a disappointment, given Holiday’s injury history.

Next: Should Ryan Anderson stay or go?

Now, the circumstances are different. Anthony Davis is no longer going to be one of the best players in the NBA; he is one of the best players in the NBA. The Pelicans need to do whatever they can to put the most talented team around their once in a generation talent. This isn’t said to imply the Pelicans should trade their pick. As mentioned previously, draft picks represent a unique value and the Pelicans should look to cash in on that.

However, if a team comes to them offering an All-Star player, the draft pick should be considered as part of a trade package. Approaching the situation with the flexibility to either retain or trade the pick allows the Pelicans to make the most logical decision to put the team in position to win basketball games. With the clock ticking, time is running out to put a second top-tier player next to Anthony Davis, and the Pelicans should explore every way to get one.