New Orleans Pelicans: Trade or Keep? Where each Pelican fits at deadline

New Orleans Pelicans: Trade or keep? Point guards

Kira Lewis Jr.-keep

This is another draft pick that I wasn’t happy about at the time but the book is still out on Kira Lewis Jr. since he is only 19-years-old and has shown flashes.

But why draft another undersized guard? It really didn’t make sense at the time, especially when there were wings on the board who better fit what the Pelicans need. 

Watching Saddiq Bey shoot 41 percent from 3-point range for the Pistons while defending all over the floor makes me wonder why he is not in a Pelicans’ uniform right now, as he is exactly the type of player you want to add around two ball-dominant guys like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

I am not ready to give up on Kira Lewis Jr. and this is not his fault, but it’s fair to question if he was the right choice and how he ultimately fits this roster. David Griffin would have to explain that one to you because I can’t.

Lonzo Ball-keep

I am ready to ink Lonzo Ball to a max deal, as he is the type of player who will work around their two stars. Whether Lonzo is interested in being a playmaking 3-and-D wing is another issue, as that is not what he came in the league as and may desire a different role for a team that doesn’t have two guys who need the ball in their hands all the time. Lonzo has stayed quiet, thrived in his role and has rounded into one of the better volume 3-point shooters in the NBA. He is probably more valuable as this version of himself than as a pass-first point guard, but that is for he and his agent to decide. The New Orleans Pelicans have their third piece already and if David Griffin decides to jettison him, I am going to really start to question his ability to build a team. Lonzo is a tall playmaker who can shoot 3-pointers and defend, which is precisely what the Pels lack, so trading him away makes no sense.

The New Orleans Pelicans continue to take two steps forward and three steps back in the standings, and with the deadline approaching, are going to have some tough decisions to make.