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

New Orleans Pelicans: Potential trade with the Lakers

Why it makes sense for the Lakers

This is all contingent on what happens in the playoffs. If the Lakers win the title, they might just run it back with their giant team that can’t shoot from long-range.

If they don’t, there will be scapegoats and one of them would likely be JaVale McGee.

We know LeBron James likes to be surrounded with shooters, and currently he is not. Other than Green, the Lakers don’t have many guys who can knock down open shots, so Melli makes a lot of sense for them.

The Lakers have one of the biggest teams in the league, and so far it has worked, but if they decide to balance their roster a little more by trading McGee and keeping Dwight Howard, then Melli could be a target.

The Lakers need to get more dynamic offensively and trading McGee is the logical way to do it.

Why it makes sense for the Pelicans

McGee would give the Pelicans the rim protector that they currently lack.

He doesn’t do a whole lot else, but McGee can block shots and has for his entire career. McGee only plays 16 minutes a game for the Lakers and gets 1.4 blocks, which would make him the best  shot blocker on the Pelicans by a mile.

He would basically be a much cheaper Derrick Favors, who actually protects the rim and provides some measure of security for the perimeter defense when things break down.

The New Orleans Pelicans have a great core of players, but they need to get better defensively without giving up one of their best guys.

There are trades out there for Nicolo Melli that make sense and could improve both teams. The Pels should be scouring the league for guys who defend and whose salaries match up with Melli’s.