New Orleans Pelicans: One trade with every Southwest Division team

New Orleans Pelicans: One trade with the San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are at an interesting crossroads. They have four huge contracts coming off their books after next season, and a few talented young players under contract, so they could be active in offseason trades.

There will be teams who covet some of San Antonio’s veterans as both players and expiring contracts, including the Pelicans, who might be interested in one of them.

In this trade, the Spurs get a young prospect and a second-round pick for one of their expiring veteran contracts.

The Spurs are one of the oldest teams in the NBA and would love to get some youth to add to Dejounte Murray, Trey Lyles, Lonnie Walker, Keldon Johnson and Derrick White. Mills isn’t part of their long-term plans and they get an asset before he walks for nothing.

The Pelicans get the veteran backup point guard they covet. Patty Mills is a professional point guard who knows how to win, and it would be nice to have him as a mentor to the young guys and to provide a spark with the second unit.

Mills has definitely lost a step but can still shoot the three-point shot at a high level. They’d be giving up on NAW, but does he really fit with the long-term plans? The Pels have plenty of shooting guards but need someone to run the point off the bench.

Mills and JJ Redick could potentially form a dynamic pick-and-roll combo and Mills would give the Pels another savvy veteran who has a history of winning.