New Orleans Pelicans: Trade with New York Knicks helps both teams
Why the Knicks would do it
The Knicks are basically playing middle man in this trade, allowing the Pelicans to unload Jrue Holiday without taking on any long-term money.
So why would they do it?
Firstly, the Knicks need wings and Wiggins is not a bad one. He hasn’t lived up to the hype, but he is still a 20 point per game scorer and only 25-years-old.
The Knicks have the cap space to absorb his contract straight up, but by moving Julius Randle and Taj Gibson, they free up a ton of future cap space that they can use to try and lure a big named free agent to New York (good luck with that one).
For their troubles they get back the 13th pick in the draft and can now start their rebuild in earnest around RJ Barrett, Wiggins and two lottery picks.
This would be a no-brainer for the Knicks in my opinion, as they are going nowhere anyway, so taking on Wiggins’ contract is not a big risk, especially if he improves defensively. They’d have two wings to build around, two lottery picks and more cap space.
If the Knicks were offered this deal they’d probably take it before the other two teams left the room.
The question is whether the Pelicans would even be in the room.