Pelicans reportedly eyeing Mavericks’ Dorian Finney-Smith

The New Orleans Pelicans have been mentioned as a possible suitor at the trade deadline as they make a push for the play-in tournament.

The Pels are unlikely to make a big trade deadline move, as they are happy with the way their team is playing without Zion Williamson and hope to get him back at some point in the season.

This team with a healthy Zion and Brandon Ingram is probably a playoff contender in the Western Conference, so the Pels would be loathe to break up the chemistry they are developing unless the right deal was on the table.

They do need to add bench depth though, as their bench has been a weakness this season, so it makes sense that they were recently attached to Dallas Mavericks’ Dorian Finney-Smith.

According to HoopsHype, the Pelicans are one of several teams that have reportedly “kept tabs” on Finney-Smith, a guy the Mavericks might want to move to avoid paying him next season in free agency.

On paper, Finney-Smith would be a nice get for the Pelicans, as he is a solid veteran forward who would add some depth to their bench and give them some defense and 3-point shooting.

But in reality, I can’t see this working out.

Who would the Pelicans trade for Dorian Finney-Smith?

The Dallas Mavericks are currently the 5th seed in the West and probably think they have as much chance to win it as anyone behind superstar Luka Doncic.

They are not going to make a trade that makes them worse now, and even though Finney-Smith is hardly a superstar, he’s an important part of their rotation who scores 10 points a game and adds nearly five rebounds.

He’s played his way into the starting lineup, so the Mavericks aren’t going to trade a starter just because he is on an expiring deal, unless they are getting one back, which is why I don’t see the Pelicans as a good match.

I can’t see the Pelicans giving up Nickeil Alexander-Walker in such a deal, and he’s not a guy who would necessarily help the Mavericks now anyway. The Pels’ veteran players probably aren’t enough to get Finney-Smith and their young guys (other than Herb Jones) aren’t ready for prime time.

I’ve written about Finney-Smith as a possible fit in the past, and I think he would be, the problem is the Pels just don’t have the assets to get it done and would be silly to give any up to get a guy who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season anyway.

If the Pelicans really want Finney-Smith, they can just wait, which is what they will have to do, as they don’t have the match to work a trade.