Looking for a much-needed interior presence as their defense struggles, the New Orleans Pelicans need to at least take a swing at a trade for Steven Adams.
Without an end to their losing ways insight, it’s time for the New Orleans Pelicans to get creative and proactive in the market in order to get this season back on track by the time Zion Williamson returns sometime in the next two-months (but at this point, who knows).
Currently, on a nine-game losing streak, the Pelicans have slumped their way to a 6-18 record, standing in fourteenth place in the West and a game ahead of the Golden State Warriors for the worst record in the conference.
Getting active on the trade front would be wise for this squad, as a few early trade candidates begin to emerge before the market gets too rich.
This morning, it was revealed by Kevin O’Conner of The Ringer that the Oklahoma City Thunder are listening to offers on franchise center Steven Adams.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have made Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, and Steven Adams available in trade talks, per @KevinOConnorNBA
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 10, 2019
So far this season, Adams is averaging 10.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, while shooting a very impressive 61.7% from the floor.
While Adams is down a tad in scoring from the previous three seasons, his minutes have also taken a slight hit as the 26-year-old center for the first time plays with a non-contending team.
Adams is also posting a 21.2 PER, +4.6 box plus/minus, and 124 offensive rating, showing his incredible metric value to start the season.
Standing 6-foot-11, 265 lbs, Adams is how the basketball gods would design a starting center in a laboratory; towering, athletic, and strong-as-an-ox, but with great feel around the rim. Giving a lot of effort and focus on both ends of the floor, Adams would also certainly help to curtail to this team’s continuing defensive woes.
The New Orleans Pelicans can’t win basketball games right now and Adams would certainly help them start checking a few more of those boxes. Now his seventh season in the NBA, Adams has yet to be on a team that’s won less than 45 games.
At the very least, David Griffin should make some sort of relatively real offer to Sam Presti for Adams. The team has plenty of assets and whatever they’re putting out there now just isn’t working.
Granted, Adams has been someone teams can take out in the playoffs, as the modern center lacks the fleet of foot to compete on the defensive end against small-ball lineups.
However, it’s not about the New Orleans Pelicans winning in the playoffs this season; it’s got a lot more to do with cracking the postseason and getting this team’s young player reps in April and May so they can learn for the future.
What does a Steven Adams trade would mean for the New Orleans Pelicans’ future?
Gaining a ton of first-round picks from deals with the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers this summer, the Pelicans might have the most chips at their disposal to put a competitive deal on the table for Sam Presti.
In all likelihood, the hefty salary figure due to Adams over the next two seasons means interested teams won’t have to bid as high as they might for a younger player or at least someone on a more affordable contract.
Signing a hefty extension in the summer of 2017, Adams will make $25.8 million and then $27.5 million over the next two seasons as a part of the original 4-yr., $100 million deal.
This contract could turn out to be a forgettable write-off for the New Orleans Pelicans, who like many teams aren’t likely to be big spenders in the 2020 offseason.
Derrick Favors has been dealing with injuries to his back and lower body but has been dealing with the passing of his mother over the past few weeks.
If the team gets Favors back in the starting lineup and he’s the same player fans got used to seeing with the Utah Jazz, there’s probably no reason to make this Adams trade. In limited opportunities, Favors posted a 20 point, 20 rebound performance and in 9 games has had mixed showings for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Sure, the team likes what they’ll have in Jaxson Hayes down the road, but he won’t be ready to really compete against elite starting centers until after Adams hits free agency in the 2021 offseason. Hayes can own the role eventually but adding Adams as a two-year fix at that spot would certainly have an impact on winning.
The New Orleans Pelicans hoped to be a lot closer to playoff contention when they set expectations this preseason. If they don’t start making moves soon, they’ll be out of that conversation before the calendar turns to January.
As the losses continue to pile-up, the New Orleans Pelicans have to address this team’s struggling ways in some capacity. If they make a move on thundering center Steven Adams, they’ll confront their failures in a big way.