Pelica Debrief
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Ranking the New Orleans Pelicans’ Trading Chips Entering the Offseason

By Aaron Kellerstrass

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JULY 30: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JULY 30: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Jaxson Hayes #10 of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Kim Klement – Pool/Getty Images)
Jaxson Hayes #10 of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Kim Klement – Pool/Getty Images) /

Jaxson Hayes is the New Orleans Pelicans’ fourth best trade asset.

Jaxson Hayes

Jaxson Hayes definitely has some value. He is just 20-years-old and has flashed big potential as an athletic center who can block shots and run the floor.

He’s definitely not there yet, but Hayes has star qualities that a lot of teams would like to have on their roster, especially considering his age.

Hayes is also on a team-friendly contract that could end up being very valuable if he improves. The Pelicans have him locked up through 2022-23 in a contract that pays him $6.8 million in the final year.

If Hayes continues to improve, he is going to be a steal when he is 23 and still making peanuts compared to other bigs.

This gives him value.

Hayes is not good enough to be the centerpiece of a trade for a superstar, but he’s valuable enough to be a significant piece of a package or to bring back a talented player who is a similar age.

Hayes’ needs to improve on both ends, but his combination of youth, talent and team-friendly contract make him one of the easiest Pelicans to move in a trade, especially to an up-and-coming team looking for future talent.

The Pels could probably send Hayes to a place like Detroit if they were interested in any of the Pistons’ veterans.

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