Analyzing Moves New Orleans Pelicans Regret From Time With Past Stars

The New Orleans Pelicans have traded away Chris Paul and Anthony Davis. The packages received in return were drastically different.

New Orleans was forced into negotiations for both Chris Paul and Anthony Davis. The team could not find a way to afford a championship contender, nor sustain the Hornets’ last competitive window. Davis put in a trade demand soon after signing with Klutch Sports.

New Orleans sent Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, one of his preferred destinations. Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, and a 2012 1st round draft pick made their way back to New Orleans.

Aminu played 222 games starting 157 and filling his role admirable, but without a jump shot.  Gordon fussed the whole time he was here, and cost the franchise a huge contract anyways.  Kaman was forgetful and that draft pick wound up becoming Austin Rivers.

Only Gordon had any real game-changing potential, and he would not show that maturity in his skillset until he was in Houston. Chris Paul was in his Point Guard Prime. Even with league ownership and Paul’s agent pressing the issue, there were better deals to negotiate. Even just an extra draft pick would make this trade look a lot better for Demps.

David Griffin was not quite under the same pressure. He was new on the job, could pitch Davis on staying, and had all summer to negotiate a deal. Any uncertainty surrounding Davis would not taint the Zion Williamson era.

So Griffin held the preferred destination hostage, according to the coastal media. Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball could become All-Stars in the next few seasons. Josh Hart looks able to support a playoff-caliber second unit. The New Orleans Pelicans got multiple draft picks, and have flipped some for even more draft selections.

The Lakers sent the fourth pick in this year’s draft to the New Orleans Pelicans. Griffin used that pick to acquire Jaxson Hayes and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. He also cleared a burdensome salary cap anchor.