New Orleans Pelicans: 3 Nicolo Melli Trades That Improve the Defense

New Orleans Pelicans: Potential trade with the OKC Thunder

Why it makes sense for the Thunder

The Thunder are another team that desperately needs 3-point shooting and could use a guy like Melli.

With Gallinari possibly leaving in free agency, the Thunder might be looking for cheap options to replace him as a stretch-four.

Melli is nowhere near as good as Gallinari, but he can shoot three’s and could be effective in the pick-and-roll.

The Thunder have a surplus of wings with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Darius Bazly and Abdel Nader, so losing Ferguson would be trading from an area of strength to bolster an area of weakness.

Why it makes sense for the Pelicans

Terrance Ferguson is a defensive-minded wing who has length and can defend multiple positions.

He can’t shoot and doesn’t look for his shot much, so he would fit well alongside the Pelicans who do both. He would be a good backup for Brandon Ingram and provides a completely different set of skills.

The Pelicans need to get wing defenders and Ferguson is a guy who has played well against some of the league’s best offensive wings, including Paul George.