New Orleans Pelicans: With two games left before deadline, it’s time to sell

The New Orleans Pelicans have now lost two-in-row and find themselves tied for 11th in the Western Conference.

While there is still time to make a run at the play-in game, it seems unlikely given the Pelicans’ inconsistency this season, as they have yet to string together too many wins in a row.

They only have two more games before the March 25th trade deadline and they are against the Nuggets and Lakers, so it is possible that the Pels will have lost four-in-a-row before that date and may have fallen even further in the standings.

While Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball have shown themselves to be the makings of a nice core, the rest of the team has largely underperformed and we could see a drastically different Pelicans’ roster after March 25th.

The Pels need to face the inevitable and should be sellers at the deadline, as trying to add short term talent to this team in a misguided effort to make the playoffs could likely set them back even more.

The question is, what do they have to sell?

New Orleans Pelicans: What the Pels should do at the deadline

The first thing the New Orleans Pelicans need to do is part ways with J.J. Redick. Since he is now injured and going through the worst season of his career, it is unlikely that they would get much if anything for him in a trade, so this is more likely to be a buyout.

Either way, he has played his last game for the Pelicans.

Eric Bledsoe is another guy the Pels would love to deal before the deadline, as he has played poorly lately, seems disinterested in being on a rebuilding team and could help a contender.

The problem is his contract, which will pay him $18 million next season and up to $19 the following. At this point, if the Pels want any chance of retaining both Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, then they should just give Bledsoe away for an expiring contract.

Do they want to keep Josh Hart? This is another interesting question, as he does a lot of things for the Pelicans but may have priced himself out of their range. If the Pels don’t think he is part of the long term plans, then a contender might cough up a late first-round pick for a rental of his services.

It’s unlikely that any of the young players would be moved, as they are still developing and would not be worth much in straight up deals.

The Pels don’t have a ton to offer at the deadline but they should be trying to clear future cap space which will mean moving on from three veteran guards.