The New Orleans Pelicans are heading into the All-Star Break with all sights set on a playoff chase, but adding a piece to the bench could make it more realistic.
Though the trade deadline has passed and not a lot of big names will move between now and July, the New Orleans Pelicans have a chance to give their roster a small boost with 28 games left in the season by chasing talent on the buyout market.
After picking up a huge win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night, the Pelicans are 23-31 and rising up in the Western Conference standings.
Just 2.5 games away from the ninth-seeded Blazers, but 4.5 games away from the Memphis Grizzlies, it seems like making a small transaction could go a long way for New Orleans.
Adding another player to the roster would come with some, but not a whole lot of difficulty for the front office, though stirring up the good chemistry in the team’s lockerroom would certainly add to their hesitation.
In order to make a move, the team would have to release one of their own players onto the market, which could potentially allow a rival team to pick up an asset of their own.
However, the Pelicans can make an easy move to waive the $7.25 million contract owed to Darius Miller this season and then not feel the effect of his non-guaranteed contract for the 2020-2021 season.
Miller, as some know, tore his Achillies tendon over the summer and will not play a minute for the New Orleans Pelicans this season. That move also allowed the team to pick up a $3.625 million disabled player exception from the NBA.
While Miller can’t help the Pelicans this season on the court, they certainly have a handful of solid options to help find another piece who can help push this team at least into a playoff birth as the eight-seed come April.