The Atlanta Hawks are an up and coming team with a player who might not fit. Could the New Orleans Pelicans take advantage and make a move for Danilo Gallinari?
The Pelicans have been playing well as of late and have gone from looking like sellers to possibly being buyers in the trade market.
Their bench has been terrible and the Pels have too many guards and not enough forwards. They would love to get a stretch-four who can actually do what Nicolo Melli is supposed to be doing, which is to open space for Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Could Danilo Gallinari be that guy?
Gallinari is not playing big minutes for the Atlanta Hawks and has only started one game. He’s getting career lows in just about everything and has not been a big part of the Hawks’ attack.
They might be wondering about his long-term fit and whether they can get an asset or two for him now while clearing up some future cap space.
Gallinari is signed through 2022-23 and may not be part of the Hawks’ long-term plans. Could he be a fit on the New Orleans Pelicans? What would they want in return?
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Danilo Gallinari makes sense
If the New Orleans Pelicans could get Gallinari without giving up anything more than expiring contracts, a non-rotation player or two and draft picks, then they’d have to consider it.
But what players might the Hawks want? How many picks?
Here is one scenario:
I have no idea if the Hawks would be interested in any of the players the Pelicans would be willing to give up but this gives a basis for discussion.
The Hawks might prefer Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Hayes, may prefer Eric Bledsoe to J.J. Redick or may want none of them at all.
So why would they do this? There are some reasons.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Danilo Gallinari
The Atlanta Hawks are in the thick of the hunt in the Eastern Conference and are currently the sixth seed.
But they still have a losing record, so it’s not like they are contenders for anything other than the top-five of the East.
That would be a good step for Atlanta, but I can’t see them making a splashy trade when they still aren’t that good and would like to acquire some future assets.
They also might like to have Gallinari’s future salary off their books so they can make a play for a big free-agent acquisition to go with their young core.
If they don’t think Gallinari is a fit, then they can flip him while he still has plenty of value, grab a first-round pick and a future second.
The Hawks would clear a ton of cap space for the offseason and would even be in a position to make a huge trade for someone like Bradley Beal, who they could almost absorb into their cap space.
They also get a project player in Jaxson Hayes who would potentially bolster their depth and allow Onyeka Okongwu to play more at power forward.
The Hawks would probably try to hold out for more and may be able to get a second first-round pick from the Pelicans instead.
It might be worth it for the Pelicans, but Gallinari has some red flags.
New Orleans Pelicans: Could Pels trade for Danilo Gallinari?
On paper, Danilo Gallinari is just what the Pelicans need.
He is a forward who can shoot (39 percent from long-range), run the pick-and-roll and add to the Pelicans depth at a couple of spots.
He is not a great defender but he would give the Pelicans some intriguing lineup options, as they could go with jumbo lineups with Brandon Ingram playing shooting guard or go small with Zion Williamson playing center.
Gallinari does have some red flags. His numbers are way down this season, which may be more of a product of environment and minutes than a decline in skill.
But he is also 32-years-old and under contract for another year plus after this one (the third year is only partially guaranteed).
He would make the Pelicans better now, especially if they didn’t have to give up much of their rotation depth to get him.
He fits perfectly into Stan Van Gundy’s offense and would immediately raise the ceiling of what the Pels’ offense could be.
Who knows what it would take to get him but if the Pels have the ammo to make it happen, he’d be a great option.