The NBA is one month away from the trade deadline and the New Orleans Pelicans need to make a move.
They were shorthanded again last night after Josh Hart was unable to make the trip to Toronto and once again came up just shy of victory in a game they could have easily won with another competent player.
The Pels’ bench was terrible as usual and gave them virtually nothing, with nary a single player logging at least 20 minutes and only one, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, scoring in double digits.
This has been a common theme for the Pelicans this season, as it has become clear that they do not have the quality depth to be a play-in team in the West.
They are expected to be buyers at the deadline, but who they will trade or trade for is entirely a mystery.
I’ll take a stab at the chances of each guy getting moved at or before the trade deadline this season.
New Orleans Pelicans: The deep bench
Using the word “deep” in regards to the New Orleans Pelicans’ bench is a bit out of place considering they have no real quality depth, but some of these guys could be trade bait.
Jose Alvarado- Low
Jose has actually played his way into the rotation, which should shame some of the other guys on this list considering he was expected to be nothing more than a G-League prospect this season. He doesn’t have a high enough salary to be filler and isn’t good enough to be a throw-in on a big trade, so I’d say he’s not going anywhere.
Gary Clark- Low
Ditto for Clark, a journeyman role player that wouldn’t have much value either way.
Willie Hernangomez- Moderate
Willie Hernangomez is a role player but some team that needs big man depth might come calling on him even though he has fallen out of the rotation. He’s proven himself to be a competent third big man and I could see him being moved since he is no longer getting much run.
Didi Louzada- Low
Who wants an unproven player coming off a steroid suspension? Good luck moving this guy, who has been one of the bigger disappointments this season for many reasons.
Naji Marshall- Moderate
Marshall has been in Willie Green’s doghouse for most of the season after having a strong preseason. I am not sure why he can’t get off the bench considering how bad this group has been. He hasn’t done enough to really interest other teams, but he’s another guy who could provide competent depth to a contender in need of it. I could also see a bad team taking a flyer on him since he has shown flashes.
Trey Murphy III- Very Low
The only way TMT is getting moved is as part of a bigger deal, but he hasn’t done enough to be an asset and is another guy who can’t seem to get minutes even though the bench never produces. He’s a good enough prospect to draw interest from someone either as a throw-in in a big trade or to a bad team that wants to take a flyer on a first-round pick and has more minutes to give him.