6 of 30
#25 Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert is entering the prime of his career and was the Defensive Player of the Year a season ago. He’s led the league in blocks and has made the All-Defensive team a couple of times as well. By all accounts, he’s a force down low and would make the Pelicans’ interior defense better than ever. Still, he’s not on a long contract, and there would be concern right off the bat that he might not see New Orleans as a long-term home, which would take us back to square one.
Exum is a good piece to include in this deal, but the draft pick is not a great one with the Jazz currently being a playoff team this year. The Pelicans do get the added benefit of some cap relief by sending Solomon Hill away here as well.