How the Pelicans could look in 3 years post-Nets/Anthony Davis trade
The Brooklyn Nets are the team du-jour as a possible Anthony Davis trade destination. How might that trade work out for the New Orleans Pelicans three years from now?
The Brooklyn Nets could target Anthony Davis. Their offer to the New Orleans Pelicans has the potential to be one of most tempting. What would a trade package from the Nets mean for the Zion Williamson-led Pelicans a few years down the road?
No matter what, the likely first pick in the NBA Draft will need a couple of years to grow into his NBA life. Zion is unlike most hyped prospects before him, and in the best ways. However, like every other all-world talent, Williamson will have to take his lumps the first couple of seasons.
The New Orleans Pelicans can only expect to contend in Zion: Year One, if Anthony Davis remains in the Crescent City. If Davis continues to demand a trade, drafting Zion will mark the beginning of a hopefully quick rebuild.
The forthcoming assets from a Davis trade haul should jump start any Pelican rebuilding efforts. David Griffin will demand enough in return for Davis to ensure the Pelicans are competitive next season. They may not contend, but New Orleans should at least show some promising strides towards a playoff appearance.
The Brooklyn Nets would be expected to offer a healthy majority of their young prospects. The Nets’ run to the playoffs was one of the more encouraging stories of the past NBA season. The only possible hang up to any deal would be the Nets’ draft picks in the deal. There is no massively hyped transcendent star in the next few drafts that Brooklyn could help New Orleans end up with.
Also, Brooklyn just recovered from the last time they shipped a half-decade’s worth of draft picks away. This actually may give the Pelicans additional leverage to pry away another young Brooklyn playoff veteran. Remember, not every player in a trade necessarily has to fit the roster immediately. David Griffin and Trajan Langdon can always use extra bodies for the next trade move.
Brooklyn also might stick with a plan of creating max cap space to sign a couple of All-NBA talents. The Nets cannot create space for two max contracts unless they move Crabbe and pass on re-signing D’Angelo Russell.
Most All-NBA players get acclimated to the league in the first year, get comfortable the second year, and then make All-Star worthy headlines in their third year. With that in mind, let’s look at what the Brooklyn Nets’ trade offer for Davis would possibly look like in three years.
A quick rebuild is not as important as a proper rebuild. A team that is decent in year two, but has already reached its ceiling does the Pelicans little good in impressing Zion. Starting in his third year and going through his mid thirties, Zion can expect to be on a contending team.
A cynic might scoff at even expecting a playoff appearance. An optimist might assume that’s the most that could be expected. Any offer from Brooklyn comes with the added benefit of those Nets players having this past season’s experience. A young playoff core, traded away for a disgruntled star, might be the most positive influence for a young Zion Williamson.
First, let’s look at the best player the Nets could offer New Orleans.