Pelicans: Why trading for a star will be complicated, not impossible

In many ways, the New Orleans Pelicans are poised to make a big trade soon.

The Pelicans are in need of a third star and have the young players and draft assets most teams covet in these types of deals.

The Pels are eager to build a playoff team around Zion Williamson but are also trying to do it the right way by not taking on aging veteran players or burdensome contracts.

In fact, the Pelicans don’t have any bad contracts, which is a great thing for their future cap flexibility, but not so much if they want to make a big trade.

New Orleans Pelicans: Value contracts and trading for a star player

The Pels have some of the best value contracts in the league, with Zion Williamson still on a rookie deal and guys like Josh Hart and Devonte’ Graham, who look like steals compared to some of their overpaid peers.

But most star players are making a ton of money, so if the Pelicans want to trade for one, they will have to come close to matching salaries, which isn’t easy to do when everyone on your team is low cost.

Brandon Ingram is the only Pelican making more than 10 percent of the salary cap, so the Pels would have to put together a big group of players to equal just one max deal. The Pels are hard capped after making the Devonte’ Graham sign-and-trade, which will also make it more difficult to take on a big salary without sending out an equal return.

Most teams don’t have space for the 4-5 players the Pels would have to send out to match any max salary and the Pelicans can’t afford to trade away that many of their young guys anyway.

Luckily, there are ways around this dilemma.

New Orleans Pelicans: Bring on the 4 team trades!

The Pelicans can still get a star in a trade by involving another team or two in the deal, specifically teams that have some cap space or a big matching contract to send out in exchange for young players or draft picks.

The Pelicans also have a $17 million trade exception which would allow them to absorb some of the cost, which means they could theoretically get a high-paid player without necessarily sending out equal contracts.

Getting a 3rd or 4th team involved increases the value of the Pelicans draft stash, as there are always teams willing to take on money in exchange for picks and that coupled with the trade exception could be enough to get them there without going over the cap.

Expect to hear some wild Pelicans trade rumors over the next few months, as they are in a position to make a big move that will likely have to involve more than one team.

Hurricane Ida Diaster Relief Fund