Would the New Orleans Pelicans do this trade for Deandre Ayton?

Why the New Orleans Pelicans should trade for Deandre Ayton

The Pelicans need a third star and yes, they could just wait until the end of the season, but then they will be bidding against all of the other teams that might want a 23-year-old center who once averaged 18.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.

Ayton fits the Pelicans timeline for contention perfectly, and has already shown he can be the center of a team that makes the Finals, as he was last season.

As far as his fit, we don’t really know what Ayton is going to be yet and he has already shown the ability to hit mid-range jumpers and may extend his range even more. He could very well end up being the exact type of rim protecting, stretch center the Pelicans need.

The Pelicans wouldn’t really be giving up much, as Valanciunas is on the final year of his deal, isn’t a great fit age-wise and might not be part of the long-term plans anyway.

The Pelicans would have their “Big 3” and still have cap space to offer Zion Williamson his max extension next summer, which he will be more likely to sign with another high-end young player on board.

The Pelicans would then have three max deals, but could fill out the rest of the team with role players, defenders and shooters, keeping a steady supply of young talent in the pipeline.

The New Orleans Pelicans could make a move for a guy who has not entered his prime and is a potential fit with what they already have, so it will be interesting to see if they pick up the phone before the trade deadline or try to move on Ayton as a restricted free agent next summer.