One area the New Orleans Pelicans may be able to find value in a trade is by targeting teams who are trying to lose.
Enter the Orlando Magic.
The Magic have plummeted since a hot early start was undone by myriad injuries, including to their star forward Aaron Gordon, who is currently out with a sprained ankle.
Gordon is unlikely to be back before the trade deadline, so on one hand, teams would be taking a risk by trading for him now, as he could have lingering effects from the ankle injury that has him sidelined.
On the other hand, his value has never been lower, so this might be the perfect time to trade for a guy who could be a part of the New Orleans Pelicans in the future.
The Magic might as well tank at this point, and since Gordon only has one more year left on his deal after this season, it makes sense to move him and try for a higher draft pick.
The Magic are the third-worst team in the East and can get to the bottom with the right moves. Here is one that would help.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Aaron Gordon
Could the New Orleans Pelicans buy low on a guy who is still young?
In this trade, the New Orleans Pelicans trade from their glut of underperforming guards to add a guy who could help at multiple spots and could be a long term fit along Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
The Magic take back a guy who can bolster their very thin guard depth, allow them to tank and add a couple of picks for their troubles, including a first-rounder and two second-rounders that should be near the top of the round.
Who says no?
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Aaron Gordon
The Magic are going nowhere with this squad and need to rebuild.
This trade would allow them to get out from Gordon’s last season, add a veteran guard whose contract will expire before their young guys are good and to get three picks to kickstart a new era.
The Magic would certainly prefer to the get the Pels’ pick instead of the one coming from the Lakers, but that might be too much to give up for a guy who is currently out with an injury.
Instead they get two valuable second-round picks that would make them players in the 2021 Draft if they were to try and move up or use the picks to trade for a player.
Either way, the Magic would be in a better spot than they are now, and probably won’t get much more for a guy who is hurt and isn’t part of their long-term plans.
Obviously, if the Magic had known that Gordon was going to get hurt then they might have moved him in the offseason when he was more valuable, but they didn’t so they are either stuck taking a deal like this or keeping him until next offseason.
It might be a risk giving up on a guy who is only 25-years-old but if the Magic can get three picks then it is a risk they should probably take.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Aaron Gordon
Some might question Gordon’s fit with Zion and Ingram but I don’t see an issue, as he has improved his long-range shooting and was hitting 37 percent on 4.4 attempts per game before he got hurt.
He could be the stretch-forward the Pelicans need around Zion Williamson and provides some depth at both forward positions in different lineups.
Trading for an injured player is a risk, but not if you are not giving up much and this isn’t much. Losing Bledsoe might be addition by subtraction at this point and none of those picks would hurt the Pelicans.
Fans are obsessed with this treasure trove of draft picks but the Pels have too many right now and eventually have to move some of that capital for actual players, and not keep stringing fans along with hope.
Also, after watching David Griffin draft, are you really sure adding more guys like Jaxson Hayes is going to help? The Pelicans could give up these three picks and still have their own pick, which is likely to be in the lottery, so they can continue to add talent even if they traded a load of picks away.
It would be a calculated risk worth taking. If the fit isn’t there, then you can still move Gordon in the future and haven’t lost much except for a guard who does not fit this roster and three picks that were never likely to make the team.