This offseason isn’t even over for the New Orleans Pelicans, but it’s not too early to start looking at the next one.
Ok, so it probably is, but considering the Pelicans will be looking to make a big move sometime this season, it’s hard not to think of the possibilities.
The Pelicans do not have a single bad contract, so are in the position to make a move before the trade deadline, or to wait it out and use future cap space to sign an 2022 NBA free agent.
Most of the best players will be restricted free agents, who are hard to pry away from their teams that can match any deal.
But there is one unrestricted free agent whose status is going to be discussed all season in both trades and eventually free agency and that’s Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls.
Pels fans have already marked the Bulls games on their calendar because of the Lonzo Ball saga, but they should also be keeping on eye on Zach LaVine.
New Orleans Pelicans: If the Bulls falter, Zach LaVine could be traded
The Chicago Bulls have a shiny new roster that will include Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan, who were both acquired in sign-and-trades.
The Bulls now have a team that is expected to compete in the Eastern Conference and jump into the playoff picture right away, but what if they don’t?
The Bulls have an expensive roster with a lot of guaranteed money tied up in Ball and DeRozan, so if they underperform, the Zach LaVine trade rumors are going to start flying.
Trading LaVine would mean a soft rebuild for the Bulls but it is also their best way to do it, as he would undoubtedly get a haul at the trade deadline.
The Pelicans are one of the few teams in the NBA with the combination of young talent and draft assets to get a guy like LaVine, so if the Bulls do end up trading him, David Griffin will be on the phone.
But there are other ways to get LaVine.
New Orleans Pelicans: Waiting for Zach LaVine in free agency may be smarter
If the Pelicans were to trade for Zach LaVine, they would have to have some kind of guarantee that he would sign an extension to stay with the team, otherwise it would be a huge risk, as he will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.
If the Pelicans wait and just try to bid for LaVine, they wouldn’t have to give up anything other than money, which may be more appealing than sending a haul of players and picks to the Bulls for a potential rental.
There is also the matter of cap space, as the Pelicans probably wouldn’t have enough to get LaVine unless they were to give up on Jonas Valanciunas or were willing to go well into the tax.
Valanciunas will be an unrestricted free agent himself and it will probably cost upwards of $20 million per season to retain him.
The Pelicans would have to do some wheeling and dealing to get under the cap, which is one of the reasons Josh Hart’s contract is so appealing, as the Pels can potentially get out of it next season, making it easy to trade away.
Even if they could squeeze LaVine in as their third star, is he even a good fit?
New Orleans Pelicans: Zach LaVine is a perfect fit with Zion Williamson
We’ve talked about how position-less basketball is coming to New Orleans and that this is probably the smartest approach to take when building around Zion Williamson.
As a 6-foot-5 guard who can play all three perimeter spots, LaVine fits that mold perfectly. He is also a plus defender, which is another necessity when playing with Zion and Brandon Ingram.
LaVine would give the Pelicans a “Big 3” that would not only be one of the best in the NBA, but they are all still young and the Pels would be getting the primes of all three players.
With LaVine, the Pels would have nearly 90 points guaranteed in three guys, but they would also have most of their cap space tied up in those same three players.
It takes three stars to win a title these days, even if one of them is Zion Williamson, so if the Pels want to get there they will need a third scoring option.
LaVine pretty much checks all of the boxes for the Pels and is a guy who will be talked about all season, especially if the Bulls get out to a slow start.