5 trade targets for the Pelicans to pursue at the deadline

5 trade targets for the New Orleans Pelicans

Two-Way Forwards

Jerami Grant and Harrison Barnes

Both Grant and Barnes fall into the “very good/not great” category but would provide NOLA with versatile defense, additional scoring options and guys who can hit a spot-up 3-point shot.

Herb Jones’ versatility gives the Pelicans a lot of options when it comes to lineups, so I could see Barnes or Grant sliding into the starting five at the power forward and pushing someone else to the bench, which would be great for the Pels’ depth.

Both of these guys can defend multiple positions and are solid team players on team-friendly contracts that only extend through next season.

The problem is that both will be hot commodities at the trade deadline and would probably cost the Pelicans more than the other players on this list.

There’s also the issue of their contracts, as both guys will be looking for extensions next season and may not be the types of players the Pelicans want to make part of their core.

But they are also guys who the Pelicans could flip before next trade deadline and recoup some of the lost assets, so the cost is really negligible and New Orleans could actually emerge with better players or more draft assets anyway.

As I said, it is unknown if the Pelicans view themselves as buyers or sellers at the deadline and they could be happy just staying as is until Zion gets back and they can see what this team looks like at full strength.