NBA free agency is only in day two but the New Orleans Pelicans have already been busy.
They shipped Lonzo Ball to the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade after apparently not wanting to match the Bulls’ 4 year/$84 million offer.
David Griffin then worked a sign-and-trade with the Hornets for Devonte’ Graham, who will make half as much as Lonzo Ball and may ultimately be a better fit for the Pelicans.
But the Pelicans still have a considerable amount of cap space leftover, have the MLE at their disposal, so hopefully David Griffin has a plan for what to do with it.
The Pelicans likely still need another starting-caliber player depending on how they feel about Graham, who is probably best served as a scorer off the bench.
They might be able to find one in free agency, as the Pelicans have as much as $24 million left to spend depending on what they do with their own guys.
If we assume Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas are four of the starters and Graham is the first man off the bench, is there a free-agent who makes sense?
Here are the best remaining.
New Orleans Pelicans NBA free agency: DeMar DeRozan
As of the time of writing this, DeMar DeRozan is still a free agent. He is not the best fit with the Pelicans and he may end up getting a bigger deal than they are able to offer, so I see him as a long shot.
DeRozan would offer some scoring stability and size but he’s also most comfortable in the mid-range, and the Pelicans are looking for players who spread the floor.
I like him from a talent and leadership standpoint but I don’t see him as a great fit and I think the Pelicans will look elsewhere.