New Orleans Pelicans: Trading a Lonzo Ball package for Paul George

New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Lonzo Ball for Paul George makes sense

Why the Pelicans would do it

Ummm, are you nuts?

If you get a chance to add a proven All-NBA wing who is also a great defender, and you don’t have to give up Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram you jump at it and don’t ask questions.

The New Orleans Pelicans hired Stan Van Gundy to get this team in the playoffs and win, not to be the babysitter for a bunch of young guys. SVG wants to win and adding Paul George would put them in a position to do so.

Imagine a starting lineup of Jrue Holiday, Paul George, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Jaxson Hayes. That team is long, versatile, can defend and would create mismatches all over the floor.

The Pelicans would not only be favored to make the playoffs but could possibly catapult straight into the Western Conference elite.

This is a no-brainer for the Pelicans, which tells me it is probably not enough to get it done. Would the Pels be willing to add a different player, say Nicolo Melli instead of Darius Miller? Would they be willing to add another draft pick or two?

The answer is yes. Paul George is a talent who moves the needle, makes your team a contender and balances the roster for the future.

If the Pelicans can find a way to make this happen without giving up Zion or Ingram, then they can position themselves to be one of the best teams in the West.