New Orleans Pelicans: A crazy Redick-Dinwiddie trade proposal

The New Orleans Pelicans acquire Spencer Dinwiddie in hope that he returns to his All-Star form, and falls in love with the Crescent City

Why the Pelicans make the trade

For the New Orleans Pelicans, this move is very risky. I won’t even lie, I’d hesitate to make this move if I were running the team, especially if the other teams offer controllable assets for Redick. However, this move could net the Pelicans an All-Star in his prime for just one aging veteran.

Let’s keep in mind, that before Dinwiddie went down with his ACL injury, he was continuing to blossom into one of the NBA’s most exciting guards, making his first All-Star appearance last season while averaging 20 points and 6 assists per game along the way.

Imagine if that player could pair up with Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Steven Adams? The Pelicans could get even closer to contention. Not to mention, Dinwiddie is a clear upgrade in a backcourt that’s struggling to figure things out. Adding Dinwiddie would allow the Pelicans to move on from someone like Eric Bledsoe or Lonzo Ball.

Now, of course, we have to bear in mind the risk. The Pelicans can trade for Dinwiddie despite his injury, but they run the risk of losing him in the offseason if he decides to do so.

The hope here is that by trading for Dinwiddie, the Pelicans would have a chance to wow him before any other team could. By letting Dinwiddie rehab in New Orleans, he could see Ingram and Williamson’s potential up close and decide to sign long-term.

Losing Dinwiddie wouldn’t be the worst thing either though, because the Pelicans wouldn’t really be missing anything. Redick’s contract expires after this season too, and if they keep him, he’ll leave for nothing.

Now would the New Orleans Pelicans do this? Probably not, but maybe when you consider some of the organizational ties Dinwiddie has. Pels GM, Trajan Langdon did play a part in identifying and bringing Dinwiddie to prominence in Brooklyn, while Stan Van Gundy drafted Dinwiddie in 2014, and spoke highly of him.

A major risk that likely won’t happen, but definitely one worth considering for the New Orleans Pelicans if they want to add a proven shotmaker to their backcourt in 2022.