Pelicans: Taking advantage of a potential Orlando Magic fire-sale

The New Orleans Pelicans should take advantage of a potential fire sale happening with the Orlando Magic.

It’s hard to consider the New Orleans Pelicans “buyers” when their team is currently 7-11. In the Western Conference, many critics would say that record is an indication that a team should be selling off their players.

Call me stubborn, but I’m just not ready to agree with those critics yet. In fact, I believe that quite the opposite is true about the New Orleans Pelicans. We think that they should be doing everything they can to buy talent if it makes sense. 

See, despite the poor record, these Pelicans aren’t the “process” 76ers of the early-2010s, or even a team lack the Sacramento Kings who they face tonight. This Pelicans team is talented with a strong frontcourt in Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Steven Adams.

In my estimation, all they need to be competitive is a few more shooters and some help that can come off the bench. So where can they find that?

How about the Orlando Magic? The Magic are an interesting case in today’s NBA. Over the past few years, they’ve been competitive, but not a title contender. This year, they’re falling on their faces as injuries have diminished them to an 8-13 record.

They’re prime candidates for a trade deadline fire sale because many reports indicate that the Magic organization believes that they should look to the future (*subscription required*). For the Pelicans, this team is exactly who they should keep an eye on.

The Magic are coached by Steve Clifford, Stan Van Gundy’s former assistant, and they run a very similar scheme to the one the Pelicans employ. However, the Magic actually have players who support that scheme with strengths in shooting and defense.

So let’s take a look at who the Pelicans should try to target if the Magic do decide to blow their team up the NBA trade deadline.