New Orleans Pelicans: A hypothetical Trey Lyles trade worth making

Trey Lyles would give the New Orleans Pelicans an instant bench contributor on the wing, and a reliable back-up for Zion Williamson

Why the Pelicans make the trade

No, this move isn’t the sexiest for the New Orleans Pelicans, but it could be a move that helps the team accomplish their goal this season.

Trey Lyles is an underrated power forward who’s still only 25-years old, and his skill-set would mesh perfectly with what Stan Van Gundy is trying to get the Pelicans to do.

At the forward position, Lyles is cerebral. He’s not overly athletic but what he gives his team is consistency. On the offensive end, he’s great at working the pick-and-pop game with a buttery mid-range jumper, and a reliable 3 point shot.

With Zion Williamson on the floor, Lyles could be another piece of added spacing, and with Williamson on the bench, Lyles can be an interesting foil to the Pelicans’ dynamic mix of guards.

On the defensive end, Lyles won’t wow anyone, but he’s better than Melli, that’s for sure. His limited athletism means he won’t wow fans with blocks, but his knowledge of the game means that he’ll put himself in a good position to contest opponents’ shots.

Once again, this move anything awe-inspiring but gives the New Orleans Pelicans more of what they’re missing, without giving up any core players. Add Trey Lyles to this Pelicans team that’s coming together more and more by the day, and this team could be cooking with fire during the second half of the season.