New Orleans Pelicans: The Heat’s success can lead to a big-time trade

The Miami Heat are showing the New Orleans Pelicans that one acquisition can change the franchise’s direction

I know, the Miami Heat lost last night but there’s just something about seeing this Heat team that makes me optimistic for the New Orleans Pelicans. After all the Heat did exactly what the Pelicans are trying to do, leap into contention.

That’s why I’m getting so giddy whenever I watch Miami play because I think the Pelicans can replicate what they did. Now, am I saying that the New Orleans Pelicans will be one game away from the NBA Finals next year? No, that’s unlikely. Can the Pelicans surprise the league and be a top-5 team in the Western Conference? I think that’s possible.

Here’s my thinking, look at this year’s Miami Heat team and ask how much they changed from the 2019 season when they only won 39 games. You’ll find that the answer is not a lot. The only major change for the Miami Heat was the addition of Jimmy Butler.

Just like it did for Miami, adding one All-Star caliber player with the leadership abilities to lead a team’s young core is a quick way to become competitive quickly. Some Pelicans fans thought the team already that this year with Jrue Holiday.

Unfortunately, for as good as Jrue Holiday is, he’s aging, and rather than being the vocal leader that holds young players accountable he’s more of a lead by example type. That’s fine, and don’t worry I’m not saying here that the team needs to trade the fan-favorite Holiday to bring that guy in. All I’m saying is adding one leader can change the Pelicans’ fortunes overnight.

Does the Heat’s success make the New Orleans Pelicans think about a big-time trade?

There’s no question that the New Orleans Pelicans are thinking about swinging a deal like this in some capacity. This team has the talent to win-now in the NBA, they’re just missing that final leader to do it. So who could be the team’s Jimmy Butler? That’s where things get murky.

There isn’t a star in free agency or a player on the market that has the strong leadership quality Jimmy Butler does but there are a few intriguing ones. The one guy I look at off the bat is the Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal.

There is speculation out there that the New Orleans Pelicans pursued Beal but Washington wasn’t willing to move him yet. If the Wizards continue to disappoint maybe that changes. I think after seeing Beal this season try to will the Wizards into the playoffs his leadership skills are growing, and we’ve already written about his Pelicans potential.

Outside of Beal, there aren’t many players who have a combination of availability, fit, and leadership. Even with Beal, his fit is questionable because adding him means moving on from Holiday. A lot can happen in an offseason though, and maybe a player shakes free and can be the Pelicans own Jimmy Butler.

In the end, a move like this might not materialize but it’s easy seeing similarities between this year’s New Orleans Pelicans and last year’s Miami Heat. That’s why I think the Heat’s success this season potentially opens the David Griffin and the Pelicans up to making a big-time move to acquire a star to lead this young roster.