NBA Trade Deadline: Three potential New Orleans Pelicans trades

Oct 23, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard

(10) drives past Miami Heat point guard

(30) during the second half of a preseason game at New Orleans Arena. The Heat defeated the Pelicans 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Our friends over at All U Can Heat talked about the possibility of Cole in New Orleans yesterday though I’m not sure New Orleans would do that offer considering how important Eric Gordon just became.

What does make a bit of sense though is a possible move for Cole. While the young point guard isn’t at all the player that some fans think he is there is a bit of intrigue to his game that Toney Douglas just doesn’t possess. Cole is a tough-minded defender and at 6’2” with some athleticism he can pose some problems on the ball. 

The big problem with Cole though is his lack of shooting. For Miami this season, Cole is shooting just 26.5 percent from three-point range and for his career he is at just 31.8 percent. The Pelicans are better with a backup point guard who can shoot threes and Douglas does that at a much better rate.

The nice part of this move is that it would be a low risk transaction for the Pelicans. A trade of Salmons and Withey is a move that sends out no rotation players for a guy the Pelicans could use for the final part of the season and let go. For the Heat the trade would be purely a move to clear minutes for Shabazz Napier and Tyler Johnson behind Mario Chalmers while getting a quick look at another young big man in Withey.

It seems very unlikely though as someone will probably give something like a pick with a bit more value than the Pelicans options for Cole.

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