The Toronto Raptors’ struggles could open a trade opportunity for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The New Orleans Pelicans may be able to seize an opportunity to get better by trading with the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors are off to a 1-6 start and look like they are a few losses away from a soft rebuild that will likely involve trading veteran Kyle Lowry.
He is a fan favorite and franchise icon, so trading Lowry will not be easy for the Raptors, but it might be the best way for them to get some talent and draft picks to build around Pascal Siakam, Fred VaVleet and OG Anunoby.
The New Orleans Pelicans aren’t off to a great start either after back-to-back horrible losses to the Pacers and Thunder.
The Pels’ bench has been the main problem but there’s not much the Pelicans can do about that until someone steps up or they make a trade to upgrade the bench.
This trade wouldn’t help the bench depth but it might give some clarity around the rotation and would make the Pelicans much better overall.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Kyle Lowry
Trading for Kyle Lowry
In this trade, the Raptors get a young up-and-coming point guard to replace Lowry, an expiring contract in J.J. Redick and some salary filler in Nicolo Melli, who needs a fresh start on a different team.
The Pelicans would get back Lowry, who would undoubtedly make them better now, but would it be worth giving up this much to get a 34-year-old point guard on the final year of his deal?
Let’s take a look.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Kyle Lowry makes sense
Why Toronto would do it
It’s too early for the Raptors to give up on their season, but if things don’t turn around quickly they’d be foolish not to use their best trade chip to get some assets.
If the Raptors start winning, then they won’t consider moving Lowry, but if they don’t, it will be on the table even though he is their most popular player.
This trade would get them a young point guard in Lonzo Ball who fits well with the personnel they already have. He will only be a restricted free agent, so they’d have the rest of the season to try him out to see if they like the fit, if not they move on and have a ton of cap space.
The Raptors would get Redick’s money off their books next season and Melli’s contract is team-friendly enough to take on even though it has one more year after this one.
Who knows, maybe Melli can have a rebirth on a team known for its foreign-born players over the years.
The Raptors also get two draft picks including a first-rounder, which is about all they can expect for a guy who is Lowry’s age.
No other contender has more to offer, so the Raptors would have to at least listen to this offer.
What about the New Orleans Pelicans?
Would the New Orleans Pelicans trade Lonzo Ball for Kyle Lowry?
Why the Pelicans would do it
The Pels would only do this if they didn’t think Lonzo Ball was part of their long-term future and who knows, they might not.
The two sides didn’t come to an agreement on an extension and it’s obvious that Lonzo Ball is going to want the max, something the Pelicans might not be comfortable doing, especially after drafting Kira Lewis Jr. in the lottery.
Kyle Lowry is 34 but is still a very good player, scoring 19.4 a game with 7.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds. He is still one of the best guard defenders in the league, a natural leader and would immediately be just as popular with Pels’ fans as Lonzo Ball.
Switching he and Lonzo in the starting lineup gives the Pels one of the best starting fives in the Western Conference and gives the Pels the playmaker they are currently lacking.
They would also get rid of Redck and Melli, who are hurting the team at the moment, which gives more chance to Nickeil Alexander-Walker and possibly Wenyen Gabriel.
This would hurt the Pels’ already thin rotation but would give more playing time to NAW and Kira Lewis Jr. and what better player to mentor them than one of the best point guards of his generation?
If Lowry fits, the Pels might be able to keep doing one-year deals with him until Lewis Jr. is ready to take over.
It’s a tough call and one that would break Pelicans’ Twitter, but if the Pels don’t see Lonzo as part of the core, it would make them a contender now and could open more opportunities for the young guards.