The New Orleans Pelicans could use assets to trade for James Harden
New Orleans Pelicans: A proposed trade for James Harden for Lonzo Ball package
A trade for James Harden
The Pels now have two first-round picks in 2022, 2025 and 2027 plus pick swaps in 2023, 2024 and 2026. That is six guaranteed picks plus three more chances to swap with either the Lakers or Bucks if their pick is higher.
The Pelicans will never have the roster spots to add so many rookies, nor would they want to, as they would like to win at some point and not just build the best team of guys under 20-years-old.
The great thing about having so many picks is that they can give them up and still have their own, so it won’t kill their future flexibility.
In this trade, the Pelicans deal from their ample draft capital, sending four unprotected first-round picks plus two pick swaps on top of young talent Lonzo Ball and veteran shooter J.J. Redick.
The Rockets may want more picks considering what Jrue Holiday fetched but there is only one other team in the league (OKC) who has more picks than New Orleans and I am pretty sure Harden is not going back there.
Would either team consider such a move? Let’s take a look.