Analyzing Moves New Orleans Pelicans Regret From Time With Past Stars

The New Orleans Pelicans did not value draft picks during Dell Demps time in charge.

Dell Demps was hired and within months he traded away the team’s next draft pick. The 2011 NBA Draft selection was sent to the Portland Trail Blazers in order to acquire Jerryd Bayless. He played 11 games for the team.

Eleven games, and then Demps packaged Bayless and Peja Stojakovic to Toronto in exchange for David Andersen, Marcus Banks, and Jarrett Jack. Anderson played 29 games with New Orleans. Banks played none. That is three valuable assets out the door for only Jack to contribute.

Jack played 117 games over three lackluster seasons. He averaged 11.1 points per game in just over 25 minutes. Even though he shot .345 from deep he only attempted 1.7 three-pointers per contest.

Tobias Harris was selected with the 19th overall draft pick Demps shipped out for Bayless. Sure some of these moves were made to trade away salary commitments, but why not seek cheaper cost-controlled talent? Harris has developed into a possible third wheel in a Big 3 in the Philadelphia 76ers setup.

Why trade away the asset costing the least (future draft pick) just to shuffle chairs and wind up with an average, at best, reserve point guard? The moves made little sense, except for the owner’s pocketbooks. It was not until April 2012 that Tom Benson bought the franchise.

Demps was forced to trade Chris Paul before ownership was stabilized. Again, he did not value draft picks.