The New Orleans Pelicans are going to be at the center of NBA trade rumors until the trade deadline.
Shams Charania reported that the Pels are already getting calls about Lonzo Ball and J.J. Redick, who are the most likely to be traded.
The Pelicans, viewed as a key team in NBA trade market, are receiving calls on Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick from interested teams and have shown openness to discussing both, per sources.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 26, 2021
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We all knew this was going to happen at some point, as both Lonzo Ball and J.J. Redick are in the final years of their deals and would likely net assets for the New Orleans Pelicans in a trade.
Lonzo can’t be too happy with his role or numbers at the moment, so there is no guarantee that he is going to re-sign with the Pelicans or that they would even be interested.
Lonzo Ball is a marquee name, and though he has not played well this season, he’s shown enough to intrigue teams that may want to add a big name to their roster.
Here are three teams who need to trade for Lonzo Ball.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Lonzo Ball to the Knicks
The New York Knicks
We wrote about a potential Lonzo trade to New York and it makes sense.
They could use a pass-first point guard and have the necessary assets to get him.
New York is sitting in the 8th seed and would love to make the playoffs. They would also like to add a player that someone outside of New York has actually heard of.
The Knicks are short on star power and even though Lonzo Ball has not played like a star, he has the fans of one and would instantly bring them to the Knicks.
The question is whether the Knicks would be willing to deal one of their young players to get him. Kevin Knox and a 1st-rounder would work for the New Orleans Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Lonzo Ball to the Bulls
The Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are another team who could use a pass-happy point guard to go along with scorers Zach LaVine and Coby White.
A Lonzo Ball/Zach LaVine backcourt makes a whole lot of sense and the Bulls could use a player with some notoriety.
LaVine is a rising star but most fans outside of Chicago don’t know who he is. Lonzo Ball brings millions of rabid fans with him (trust me, I know) wherever he goes and would instantly make the Bulls a more high-profile team.
The Pelicans would love to pry Lauri Markkanen away from the Bulls in a trade, but he has played well this season and it may take more than the Pels are willing to give up for a guy on the final year of his deal.
If the Bulls were willing to give up a first-round pick and someone like Chandler Hutchinson, then the Pels might be willing to deal.
Adding Lonzo Ball to the Bulls would make them a playoff contender in the East, which isn’t saying much, but the Bulls are desperately trying to get some buzz, so may be a good place for the Pels to look.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Lonzo Ball to the Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets
Can we just get all of the Ball stans in one place? Let’s make this happen already.
Since the time they were children, LaVar Ball has talked about how Lonzo and LaMelo are going to play together in the NBA.
I don’t necessarily see the fit from a basketball perspective but if you are just trying to bring some attention to a team that NEVER gets it, then having both Ball brothers on one team is a way to do it.
The Pels could trade Lonzo Ball for Miles Bridges straight up, add some depth to their forward positions and unite the Balls in Charlotte.
It makes too much sense not to do it at this point.
If you are Charlotte, what do you have to lose? They already stink and have forever. LaMelo already looks like one of the best players from the draft and if they can bring on Lonzo you are suddenly the talk of the NBA.
Charlotte might do it just to sell jerseys.
The New Orleans Pelicans will have suitors for Lonzo Ball that is certain, but they need to find the best trade that maximizes his value.