New Orleans Pelicans: 3 wings on bad teams the Pels should target

The New Orleans Pelicans need an injection of talent and defense on the wing and should be monitoring the bad teams that might have one to trade.

The Pelicans currently have just Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram at forward and neither of them really have a backup.

This is a problem in a league dominated by wing players, as the Pels have shown time and time again the they can’t stop them as they are currently constructed.

The Pels should be keeping their eye on some of the lesser teams in the league to see if they could use their considerable coffer of draft assets to get a guy who better fits their roster.

Here are three wings on bad teams that might be available for a trade. We’ll start with a  low-cost option, a veteran and an up and coming star.

New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Luguentz Dort

Dort got a lot of attention recently after after playing some unorthodox, but effective defense on LeBron James.

He is a bit undersized for a small forward and is more of a combo guard, but he can defend and fits the profile of guys that the Pels should try to add around Zion Williamson in that he is a defender who doesn’t care about stats and has no ego.

He’s also very cheap so the Pels might be able to get him with just future picks.

New Orleans Pelicans: Harrison Barnes could be an option

When it comes to veteran wings, Harrison Barnes is one that comes to mind. The Kings are bad and would probably love to get out from under his contract as they continue to rebuild.

Barnes is another guy who fits the 3-and-D profile of players the Pels need. He is big enough to defend multiple spots, can shoot the 3-pointer at a high level and would complement what they already have.

New Orleans Pelicans: Jerami Grant would be a perfect fit on the Pels

I can already hear the Pistons’ fans gathering outside my door with pitchforks.

It would probably take a LOT to get Jerami Grant out of Detroit, as he is having a breakout season and looks like a budding star. But he is exactly the type of player the Pels need, as he can defend all over, score in a number of ways and is a tough player with playoff chops.

He’d be the dream get for the New Orleans Pelicans, as he could play with both Zion and Ingram, is on a reasonable contract that he is outperforming and is still only 26-years-old.

It would probably take at least Lonzo Ball and several picks to get him but the Detroit Pistons are rebuilding and would at least listen.

The New Orleans Pelicans are drifting away from the playoffs and need to find some guys who better fit around their stars.