The New Orleans Pelicans were predicted to be a big part of the trade deadline but it is starting like they might not do anything at all.
The Pels have been in a ton of trade rumors, mostly circling around Eric Bledsoe, J.J. Redick and Lonzo Ball, but just about everyone not named Zion Williamson has had their name mentioned at some point.
This is to be expected, as they are a underperforming team with a lot of young talent and a ton of draft assets, which means they have all of the pieces for a splashy trade.
That still might happen, as the trade deadline is not until March 25th and the Pelicans don’t have to be in a rush. They can see where they are as the deadline gets closer and adjust accordingly, as they are still in a position to be either a buyer or a seller.
The Pelicans’ season has been so inconsistent that they haven’t fallen completely out of playoff contention but also haven’t won enough to be considered definite buyers at the deadline either.
But fans who are hoping for a busy trade deadline could be disappointed, here’s why.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Redick and Bledsoe won’t be easy
J.J. Redick was the Pelican most likely to be dealt before the deadline, but his recent injury and procedure on his right heel might make that difficult to do.
Redick wasn’t playing well before the injury and may not have time to show that he is healthy and can still play before the deadline.
Eric Bledsoe won’t be easy to move either. He hasn’t been horrible this year but he hasn’t been good either, so his contract, which is not expiring, might be tough to move unless the Pelicans are willing to give him away for nothing more than an expiring.
If they have visions of re-signing Josh Hart and Lonzo Ball, then that is exactly what they might have to do with Bledsoe, whose salary will make signing both Hart and Ball nearly impossible.
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.
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.
New Orleans Pelicans: These are David Griffin’s guys
Most General Managers are loathe to move on from guys that they drafted, signed or traded for, as it is essentially an admission of guilt.
This is why instant replay in basketball is stupid: you are essentially asking the ref who made the call to admit that they were wrong. Unless it is undeniable, few are going to do it.
This is the case with Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and even Steven Adams, as these are players that David Griffin specifically chose, so trading them away now would just be screaming to everyone that he screwed up.
Job security is not easy to come by in the NBA, especially if you are sending huge signals to your owner that you really don’t know what you are doing.
I am sure that Griffin would move one of these players if it were part of a larger deal, but otherwise they are here to stay, as trading them now would look like a panic move from a guy who is worried about his job.
All of these factors could add up to a slow and quiet trade deadline for the New Orleans Pelicans, who are stuck between buying and selling with a young team and a relatively new front office.