The New Orleans Pelicans could upgrade their bench with a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The New Orleans Pelicans have started the season 2-2 but one thing is glaringly obvious: their bench is terrible.
Outside of Josh Hart, no one on the Pelicans’ bench has played well. While we need to be patient with veteran J.J. Redick, there has never been any indication that guys like Nicolo Melli or Jaxson Hayes can play valuable minutes for this team.
That could change, but as of now, the bench is killing the Pelicans. In the last game against the Suns, the Pelicans were up three when they went to the bench in the first quarter.
By the time the starters returned, the game was essentially over. The Pelicans’ bench has consistently put the starters in the position of needing to build big leads and then get them back after the bench blows it.
The Pelicans need a bench upgrade and might be able to find it on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
New Orleans Pelicans: A trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are once again the surprise team of the NBA, even though they are just 1-2. They’ve been close in every game, which is surprising considering they were supposed to be tanking with the youngest team in the NBA.
The Thunder would prefer a high lottery pick to a 10th seed in the West, so may try to jettison some of their veterans to make it happen.
This could benefit the Pelicans with a trade like this:
In this trade, the Thunder cash in a trade chip for Melli and two second-round picks. The Pelicans could offer a first-round pick from one of their hoard but only if they got the sense that Muscala, who is on the final year of his contract, would re-sign with the team.
The Pelicans would love this upgrade, but is it enough to make it happen?