Pelicans Trade for Myles Turner in Hypothetical Deal: Should they?

Lonzo Ball for Myles Turner? Why the New Orleans Pelicans say no.

Why the Pelicans wouldn’t do it

I think there is a lot to like about this trade, but I still don’t think the Pelicans would do it.

Trade rumors involving Lonzo have been flying since he stunk it up in the bubble, but none of these rumors are coming from the Pelicans and they’ve given no indication they want to move him.

The reason is simple: He and Zion Williamson have a chance to be special.

Myles Turner is a nice player, but there are a lot of other bigs who can do what he does. Turner’s 12.1 points per game are 23rd in the NBA for centers, just behind Thomas Bryant, who is younger and makes $10 million less.

His 6.6 rebounds a game are 34th in the NBA FOR CENTERS. Keep in mind that shooting guard Josh Hart averages 6.5 rebounds a game.

His 3-point percentage is above-average for a center but he still only makes 1.4 of them per game, which is just 12th in the NBA, again, for centers only.

Blocked shots are really the only area where Turner excels and $18 million seems to be a lot to pay for two blocked shots, a 3-pointer and 12 points per game.

The Pelicans could probably wait for free agency and grab someone like Aron Baynes, who will not be making $18 million a year and pretty much provides everything that Turner does.

Turner aside, Lonzo Ball has a chance to be a special player, especially playing with gifted scorers like Zion and Ingram. Lonzo already forms the best alley-oop combo in the NBA with Zion and it wouldn’t be surprising if Lonzo ended up leading the NBA in assists as early as next season.

Tall point guards who are elite passers, plus-defenders and can shoot 38% from long range are a lot harder to find than guys like Myles Turner.

Turner is a nice player but I don’t think he is in Lonzo’s category talent-wise, so they’d need to get back more to do this deal.

Hoops Habit had a nice idea, but ultimately I don’t think either of these teams would do it. It would be too risky for boring Indiana and there wouldn’t be enough talent coming back for New Orleans.