The New Orleans Pelicans should have been involved in Cavs/Bulls trade

The New Orleans Pelicans have had a strange offseason that has been difficult to evaluate.

That’s why we see fierce debate about whether the Pelicans have improved this offseason and I think you can make a case for either, though I think they will be better.

But they are definitely not a title contender and could use another player or two if they want to have the quality depth they’ll need to get to the playoffs in the super-competitive Western Conference.

The Pelicans still have a big trade exception, a ton of draft assets and some good young players on team-friendly contacts, so they are in the perfect position to make a deal.

So why didn’t they?

New Orleans Pelicans: Why weren’t the Pels involved in the three-way deal between  Bulls, Cavaliers and Trail Blazers?

Just when we thought the NBA offseason was going quiet, Wojnarowski dropped one of his trademark bombs on Twitter:

First off, this makes the paltry return David Griffin got for Lonzo Ball look even worse, as the Bulls were able to get much more for Markkanen, who is in the same tier of talent as Lonzo and had even more leverage over a team that clearly did not want him.

The Pelicans were reportedly interested in Markkanen, but obviously balked at the price the Bulls were asking. The Cavaliers bit and ended up signing Markkanen to a fat contract. If the Pelicans didn’t want to go that high, I can understand, but what I don’t get is why they weren’t trying to get in on the Portland part of the deal.

Larry Nance Jr. is a good player who would have been a perfect fit on the Pelicans, especially considering they are light at power forward behind Zion Williamson.

Nance is a high I.Q. defender who could have helped improve the Pels’ woeful defense and is on a team-friendly contract that runs for two more seasons.

He is also best friends with Josh Hart, so the fit is definitely there and all it cost the Trail Blazers was a middling young player and a protected first round pick, a cost the Pelicans definitely could have paid.

Could Didi Louzada and a first have landed Nance Jr.? Maybe, maybe not but it was definitely worth a shot.

Nance Jr. offers the kind of quality veteran depth that the New Orleans Pelicans do not currently have, and given that he wouldn’t have cost much to acquire, I have to wonder how the Pels weren’t involved in this trade.