New Orleans Pelicans: A Trade with the Bucks that Makes Sense

New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Melli for Lopez makes sense

Why the Bucks would do it

Why not?

It has become clear that Robin Lopez is not part of their long-term plans, so they could trade his final year for a younger guy who has a more compatible skill set.

Lopez’s numbers have went down across the board this season, mostly because he is getting seven fewer minutes per game than he did last season, when he put up a respectable stat line that included more than a block per game.

Lopez has played even less in the playoffs, playing fewer than 10 minutes in each of the three games and basically being a non-factor off the bench who gets mop-up duty when the game is over.

Melli has struggled mightily with his shot of late, but there is no doubt he can shoot it, giving the Bucks another shooter to insert next to Giannis.

When Melli is stroking it, he is an asset as a power forward, as he can stretch the floor and clear space for Giannis to operate down low.

Melli isn’t the defender or rebounder that Lopez is, but Lopez doesn’t play so who cares? The Bucks need shooters and could take a chance on a guy who could be one.

Melli would also provide them some insurance against possibly losing Ersan Ilyasova, whose contract is only partially guaranteed and who is older than Melli and about as good.

Melli could potentially be a younger, cheaper upgrade over Ilyasova and doesn’t have the kind of contract that would hamper the Bucks in the future.

It makes sense for the Bucks, but what about the New Orleans Pelicans?