New Orleans Pelicans: Why the Pels could have a quiet trade deadline
New Orleans Pelicans: The Pels are unlikely to trade Lonzo Ball
Earlier this season when Lonzo Ball was still adjusting to his new role, it looked like he might be the first to be traded.
It made some sense, as he is a restricted free agent and the Pels’ best trade chip, so they might have been able to get something substantial in return from a team that wants to add a popular and ascending player to their roster.
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But Lonzo Ball has played very well since the trade rumors started, rounding into the type of playmaking 3-and-D guard the Pelicans desperately need.
His scoring has been up and down and his stats are actually worse in a lot of areas, but Lonzo has shown that he can play alongside Zion Williamson and be effective, which is the most important thing for the Pels as they try to build a roster around their 20-year-old superstar.
The Pels are more likely to keep Lonzo now and will hopefully re-sign him in the offseason, which is another reason the trade deadline could be a quiet one.
If Lonzo Ball, J.J. Redick and Eric Bledsoe aren’t traded, then who is left? David Griffin might be reluctant to move on from the rest of the team for one simple reason.