New Orleans Pelicans: Kira Lewis Jr. selection means more trades

The New Orleans Pelicans will need to make a trade after selecting Kira Lewis Jr. in the NBA Draft.

The New Orleans Pelicans had too many guards before they traded Jrue Holiday. After selecting Kira Lewis Jr. in the NBA Draft, the Pels have more guards than they know what to do with.

They took back two point guards, Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, in the Holiday trade, and have now added yet another point guard in the draft.

If you are keeping track, the Pels now have five point guards if you count Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

This in itself is not a bad thing, as the NBA is a guard league now and every team can use guys who can make plays.

But five point guards? That’s a bit much.

This is especially true when you consider how thin the Pelicans are everywhere else. They literally have no backup for Brandon Ingram at the wing, and only the mediocre (at best) Nicolo Melli backing up Zion Williamson.

Their only center can’t buy alcohol yet and the Pels don’t have a single adult who can defend the rim consistently or put a body on an NBA center, which is why I had to give this draft fairly low grades.

This is a team that was already at the bottom of the league in points in the paint allowed, so they have to get bigger, stronger and tougher if they want to compete next season. That is going to take a trade.

The New Orleans Pelicans should trade Eric Bledsoe for a center or wing

The most likely player to be traded is Eric Bledsoe, as he will not only get the most return but has a reasonable salary that shouldn’t be hard to move.

Any team looking for a veteran guard who can defend would be happy to have Bledsoe, who has the length to defend both guard positions.

If the Pels could move Bledsoe for a veteran power forward or center, they should definitely do it. Atlanta would be a good choice, as they have a bevy of big man after adding another one in the draft.

Someone like Dewayne Dedmon or Clint Capela would be a nice addition to the Pelicans.

They could also target a team like the Warriors, who may look to add a veteran guard depending on the injury status of Klay Thompson.

However they do it, the Pelicans need some size, and with little money to spend after they extend Ingram, the only way they are going to get it is by making a trade.

Let’s hope the New Orleans Pelicans can find a way to move Eric Bledsoe to balance the roster and add some size.