New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Lonzo Ball for a Clippers shooter
For what it’s worth, I think that the New Orleans Pelicans should do whatever they can to keep a hold of Lonzo Ball. He is a nearly perfect complement to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, not to mention that his improvement this season has been palpable. There’s a reason why the Clippers, a definite championship contender, want Ball on their squad.
However, Ball’s contractual situation makes things a bit prickly. The Pels front office must be kicking themselves for not agreeing to a rookie contract extension with Ball in 2020. Ball is making $11 million this year but will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
Should a team trade for Ball, they either need to be confident that they can keep him for the long-term or comfortable with the chance of Ball being a months-long rental for a late-season push.
The chances of a traditional two-team trade with the Clippers for Ball are slim, but still potentially worth exploring. This possibility of sending Ball and Willy Hernangómez to Los Angeles in exchange for Luke Kennard and Ivica Zubac works financially, but as I wrote, there are significant questions from a player personnel standpoint.
Starting with Kennard, he is a logical fit for the Pelicans. The Clippers raised eyebrows when they signed Kennard to a significant deal this past offseason—$64 million over four years—and he hasn’t shown much in Los Angeles. The former Duke Blue Devil’s minutes have waned as the season has progressed, not even featuring in the Clippers’ last two games.
However, the Pels could rehabilitate Kennard, who is still just 24-years-old. He would provide much-needed outside shooting (41 percent career average in the NBA) and some secondary playmaking. While he was with the Detroit Pistons, Kennard showed some ability running pick-and-rolls and facilitating for his teammates, although he isn’t as capable as Ball in that department.
Zubac, on the other hand, makes a lot less sense. He would absolutely reinforce the Pelicans’ frontcourt depth while on an affordable contract, but Steven Adams is already on the team. Which one of Adams or Zubac is better right now ultimately doesn’t mean much, because it doesn’t make sense for the Pelicans to have two starting-caliber centers at the same time.
On top of that, Adams agreed to a two-year, $35 million extension upon being traded to New Orleans. That both means that he cannot be traded this year and that the Pelicans’ front office, at least last year, saw him as an important piece going forward. From a Clippers standpoint, there also isn’t much incentive to trade Zubac—even if it means acquiring Ball—because they would be losing a key, young component of their team who is locked in until 2023.
Overall, while the Pels would be strengthened by Kennard’s addition, Zubac’s inclusion probably makes this deal a no-go.