Adding Steven Adams to the New Orleans Pelicans changes their outlook.
The New Orleans Pelicans already made one big splash, sending Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks, and now they’ve made another, trading three picks for center Steven Adams.
The news came out late last night, as Adrian Wojnarowski woke everyone up with this bomb:
Sources: The Steven Adams-to-Pelicans trade includes Denver, which traded a 2023 lottery protected first-round pick for the 24th pick (RJ Hampton) on draft night. That pick is headed to the Thunder -- along with two seconds -- for Adams.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 21, 2020
So the Pelicans moved one of their many first-round picks, the 2023 pick they got from Denver on draft night, and two second-rounders for Steven Adams, one of the best big men in the game. Veterans George Hill and Darius Miller were also reportedly in the trade.
Anyone who was wondering why the Pelicans were gathering so many picks on draft night, here is your answer. Draft picks are the currency of the NBA, especially when you are dealing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who now have more picks than the rest of the league combined.
New Orleans Pelicans: Adding Steven Adams changes the ceiling of the team
The Pelicans filled arguably their biggest hole by adding Adams, as they only had one center on the roster, 20-year-old Jaxson Hayes, who now gets another year to develop as a backup.
The Adams addition must be analyzed from three perspectives, how he fits the team now and long-term, the money and what he does for the Pelicans’ chances at the playoffs.
Steven Adams’ fit on the Pelicans
The Pelicans were near the bottom of the NBA In points in the paint allowed, giving up more than 52 a game.
Adams is one of the better center defenders in the NBA, so those days should be over. Adams not only blocks 1.1 shots per game but averages nearly a steal a game. Most importantly, he’s a big body who can muscle just about anyone in the league, which is huge for a Pels team that got pushed around most of last season.
Adams will improve the Pelicans’ defensive rebounding, helping them to close out possessions, which is something they had a hard time doing last season.
Adams is also a plus offensive rebounder, something the Pelicans were already very good at. He and Zion Williamson are going to be a handful in the lane for anyone.
The Pelicans now have two of the top finishers at the rim, as both Zion and Adams shoot a ridiculous percentage in the paint.
Adams is a screen setter who should be able to help facilitate movement in Stan Van Gundy’s offense. He can initiate offense himself at times and is a good passer for his size, working from the top of the key.
Adams is not a floor spacer with shooting, but his screens and ability to pass make up for it. He is the tough, rim protector that the Pelicans needed, and there weren’t too many better fits in the NBA.
Forget about 3-point shooting, there are plenty of ways to space the floor and Adams brings way more to the table than he takes away.
But what about the money?
New Orleans Pelicans: Adding Steven Adams means more trades are likely
The Money
Steven Adams is owed $27.5 million, a steep price for a center, even one who is a nice fit on the Pelicans’ roster.
His salary basically replaces Jrue Holiday’s, which means the Pelicans are going to be in the luxury tax unless they make another trade.
Moving someone like Eric Bledsoe shouldn’t be too difficult and they already have so many guards that it would be trading from a surplus.
The Pels could even send him to a team with cap space (Atlanta) who could send back a pick and no money, so the Pels should be fine financially.
Adams’ price tag is high but he only has one more year remaining on his deal, so the Pels could potentially re-sign him at a much-reduced rate if things work out.
It is an expensive try out for Adams, who is not likely to get the same AAV in his next contract and could end up being a valuable long-term addition.
Either way, the Pels only gave up a middling first-round pick and two second-rounders to see how he fits with Zion. If it works out, the Pels can extend Adams on a better value deal and if it doesn’t, they let him walk and have a ton of cap space.
Either way, Steven Adams does not hurt the long-term flexibility of the team.
New Orleans Pelicans: Does Steven Adams make the Pels a playoff team?
The Playoffs
Prior to this move, it appeared as though the Pels might be punting on this season a bit. They had just traded their best overall player for draft picks, traded three of their draft picks for future picks and it looked like the Pels were playing the long game.
Now? The Pelicans just went from fringe playoff contender to legitimate threat for the top-6 seeds.
The problem is that the West is loaded and got even better so far this offseason. The Suns added Chris Paul to a team that finished four games ahead of the Pelicans.
The Grizzlies, Trail Blazers and Kings have had good offseasons as well, and you can never count out San Antonio.
It’s not going to be easy to make the playoffs in the West, as it seems like the top teams (Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Jazz and Rockets) will all be back strong, which doesn’t leave much wiggle room for the remaining teams, all of who will be trying to win.
A lot can happen between now and then, and if the Pels gel right away, they could easily catapult into the top-six, especially if Houston ends up trading Harden and/or Westbrook.
The Western Conference is going to be as competitive as it’s ever been but now the Pels have the ammo to be in the mix.
Adding Steven Adams works from just about all angles, and the New Orleans Pelicans are now in a position to get into the playoffs without giving up their future.