New Orleans Pelicans: 5 things we learned from Summer League
New Orleans Pelicans: Did the Pels fleece the Memphis Grizzlies?
Ok, so it is too early to declare the Pelicans the clear cut winner of the trade that sent Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe and the 10th pick to Memphis in exchange for Jonas Valanciunas and the 17th pick.
But it is looking really good for the Pelicans.
The Pels not only unloaded $35 million in salary but got the best player in the trade just for moving back seven spots in the draft.
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It’s far too early to say that Trey Murphy III is going to be better than Ziaire Williams, but so far the returns look pretty good for the Pelicans.
The Pelicans might have gotten the two best players in the deal, and even if they didn’t, they still got rid of two guys who weren’t good fits and picked up a ton of cap space. The Grizzlies have since jettisoned Bledsoe to the Clippers for a similarly mediocre return, so I can’t imagine David Griffin could have done much better.
I’ve been the first to criticize Griffin, but I have to give him credit for that trade.