New Orleans Pelicans: Four trades that would send Lonzo Ball to the Clippers

New Orleans Pelicans: Three-team trades

Ultimately, the likeliest option for the Los Angeles Clippers to get a deal done with the New Orleans Pelicans is through a trade involving multiple teams.

One iteration I have come up with is this trade featuring a ton of players that every team could stand to benefit from.

Harrison Barnes is a handy second or third option who is having an under-the-radar great season. Barnes is putting up his most efficient scoring numbers ever, shooting the ball well from deep, and playmaking at a higher level than what his reputation indicates.

Nemanja Bjelica provides a stretch big option off the bench. He’s been playing more for the Kings as of late, but was very available early in the season. Sacramento is 12th in the west and probably doesn’t mind not winning right now.

Finally, the Pels would also obtain Reggie Jackson and the aforementioned Beverley. I stand by what I wrote about Beverley, but this trade is different in that he is not the only compensation. Jackson is a decent rotation player or fifth starter who should do fine in a bitpart role. Either way, he would only be on the books until the end of the season on a small contract.

From a Clippers point of view, Ball would do everything we’ve outlined. He’d become an instant starter and considerably raise Los Angeles’ championship potential. JJ Redick being incorporated into this trade would see him return to the Clippers and get the opportunity to chase a well-deserved championship. Sacramento’s Justin James is in there to make the money work, but at worse, he’s a long wing with some ballhandling ability that the Clippers could evaluate up close and decide from there.

Finally, the Kings probably get the shortest end of the stick, but there’s still some good in this for them. It would mean rebuilding, at least to an extent, but Sacramento would be happy with a top pick in this year’s draft. Luke Kennard is an easy fit on most teams, they get a nice young player in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and they don’t have to stick with Nicolò Melli or Lou Williams past this summer.

Bledsoe is the albatross, but maybe a change of scenary would reinvigorate him. At worst, he is a good mentor for De’Aaron Fox, a capable NBA player despite his poor performances this season, and could either be eventually stretched or traded if he regains some value.