3 Players the New Orleans Pelicans Could Trade this Offseason

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Shooting Guard

After a stellar preseason, it looked as if Alexander-Walker was poised to have a huge rookie season for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Unfortunately, NAW came back to Earth during the regular season, eventually finding himself on the end of the bench and then the G-League before getting injured just before the hiatus.

Like Hayes, Alexander-Walker has huge potential, but the New Orleans Pelicans may not have time to wait around for him to reach it.

Potential is a luxury if you are trying to win titles and mid-market teams like the New Orleans Pelicans have much shorter windows than the big-city teams on the coasts.

The Contract

Alexander-Walker is set to make just $3.1million next year, $3.26 the following and $5 million in 2022-23. Like Hayes, the final two seasons are team options, so the New Orleans Pelicans will have choices.

If NAW lives up to his considerable potential, then five million is a great bargain for a shooting guard, but if he doesn’t, the Pelicans could be stuck paying big money for a bench player.

The New Orleans Pelicans are going to have to find efficiency and value if they want to keep their core and fill out their bench, so may decide that they can get someone even younger to stash or a veteran minimum to take NAW’s spot.

The Fit

This is where trading Alexander-Walker gets tricky.

Though he has yet to do much for the New Orleans Pelicans, his timeline fits well with the departure of E’Twaun Moore and eventually Redick and Holiday.

If the Pelicans feel like NAW is their guy and can fill one of these guys’ shoes, either as a bench player or starter, then keeping him would be smart.

If they have lost faith in the 21-year-old, then he could be jettisoned for a lower cost veteran to fill out the bench.

If the Pelicans can get a future draft pick and a cheap veteran for Alexander-Walker this offseason, then they may have to jump on it.