New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Nickeil Alexander-Walker to OKC Thunder

New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Nickeil Alexander-Walker for Trevor Ariza

Why the Pels would do it

There are really three reasons the Pelicans would do this trade:

1. They would make this trade to protect Brandon Ingram at small forward. They currently don’t have a backup, nor anyone who can really defend wings, so Ingram needs some help here. Ariza is still a good defender and would give the Pels some insurance and depth at the wing.
2. The Pels don’t think NAW is part of the future. Let’s face it, it is going to be tough for him to get minutes over Bledsoe, Hart and Redick, so where exactly does he fit in? NAW hasn’t shown he can play point guard, so he might just be a surplus part at this point.
3. The Pelicans are near or in the playoffs. If the Pels are in the playoff hunt and want to make a move for a veteran to shore up their depth, then this could be the move to make. Ariza has been to war many times and can be counted on, so the Pels might want to add someone like that down the stretch.

The New Orleans Pelicans need to balance the roster and the best way to do it is to trade from their surplus of shooting guards.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is young and talented enough to net a decent return, so he might be the guy to be shipped out if the Pels do make a trade.