The New Orleans Pelicans are going to face a tough salary cap situation this offseason unless they can unload J.J. Redick and Eric Bledsoe.
Redick is an expiring contract who they could just let walk at the end of the season, so he is the less important of the two, but if the Pels want any chance to re-sign both Josh Hart and Lonzo Ball, then they need to trade Eric Bledsoe.
That may require an adjustment of expectations on the return they are going to get.
It’s no secret that the Pels have been making calls about their two veteran guards, but it’s also no secret that their value has dropped this season.
According to Fox Sports, the only thing that might be holding back a trade is the the Pels’ asking price, which is reportedly too high.
Though both of these guards could definitely help a contender, none of these teams are likely to give up much to get them as they simply don’t move the needle enough to get back a promising young player or a first-round draft pick.
But that doesn’t mean the New Orleans Pelicans shouldn’t trade them, as both could be an “addition by subtraction” who allow the Pelicans to embrace their youth movement and open up some future cap space for Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart.
Let’s take a look at some realistic trade returns for Redick and Bledsoe.
New Orleans Pelicans: The Pels waited too long to trade JJ Redick
Some of us were screaming last season that the Pelicans should trade J.J. Redick.
He was one of the top 3-point shooters on a team that was going nowhere and he still had a year left on his deal, which means some team almost certainly would have given up some type of asset to get him.
The pandemic threw everything into disarray and teams were leery about making trades, which certainly isn’t the fault of the New Orleans Pelicans.
But they still could have moved him in the offseason, when he had a full year left on his deal and had not yet shown that he might be washed.
Redick is now suffering through the worst shooting of his career, not playing big minutes or contributing much and looks like a guy the Pels will have to try and give away.
If they still believe they can get a 1st-round pick for him then they are out of their minds or assume someone else is, as Redick doesn’t have that kind of value.
The fact that the New Orleans Pelicans kept him shows that they thought they were going to be better this season than they actually are, which wasn’t a bad bet given their talent and the assumed ascension of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
But that didn’t happen and now the Pels just need to jettison Redick to the first contender that offers them a 2nd-round pick and an expiring deal.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Eric Bledsoe makes keeping Lonzo Ball easier
Eric Bledsoe is another guy the New Orleans Pelicans would love to trade before the deadline.
Bledsoe isn’t playing terribly, so this move would be strictly financial, as his contract will make it more difficult to retain Lonzo Ball and particularly Josh Hart.
Bledsoe is shooting nearly 40 percent from 3-point range on 5.2 attempts per game and can still defend, so he can help a contender or a team that needs a veteran guard.
The problem is that the Pelicans can’t take back a deal that goes beyond this season, which will make it a lot more difficult to find a trade partner that is willing to give up anything of value for Bledsoe, even if he is an upgrade.
At this point, the Pelicans should be happy taking back an expiring contract and not much else for Bledsoe if they want to move him, as there aren’t likely any teams willing to take on his extra two years AND throw in an asset.
The New Orlean Pelicans need to be realistic when it comes to their veteran guards, as getting their money off the books is more important than anything they might hope to get in return at this point.