New Orleans Pelicans: Trading RFAs with the Atlanta Hawks

Acquiring DeAndre Bembry from the Atlanta Hawks gives the New Orleans Pelicans another wing player this offseason

Why the New Orleans Pelicans make this deal

For the New Orleans Pelicans, this deal is also all about opportunity. With four picks in the upcoming draft and the depth at the guard position I mentioned, it’s more than likely that the Pelicans select a guard at some point. That’s why Frank Jackson is expendable.

Getting DeAndre Bembry back for Jackson is a solid return because it gives the Pelicans a veteran wing to add some roster depth and transition the team into positionless basketball. Think about it, having Bembry’s athletism on the wings and his ability to play reliable defense for a few minutes a game is one of the elements the Pelicans missed last year. Bembry’s skills with the ball in his hands only makes the Pelicans more dangerous on offense too because they’ll add another player capable of handling the ball to their roster.

I know plenty of you might be concerned with Bembry’s shooting abilities but if the Pelicans keep their assistant coach Fred Vinson, Bembry’s shot could receive the same improvements that Brandon Ingram’s did. If that’s the case there’s another reason to love this deal on the Pelicans side.

In the end, this is just a marginal move that improves both of these teams on the edges. For the New Orleans Pelicans, that’s just the type of move they need and that’s why I’d make this deal before the 2020 NBA Draft if I were running the team.