3 Pelicans that won’t last the entire 2022-23 season with the team

3 Pelicans who won’t finish the season in New Orleans

Jaxson Hayes

Jaxson Hayes is set to make $6.8 million this season, but unless the Pelicans come to an agreement on an extension, he’ll become a restricted free agent at the end of it. Though there has been some lip service about that happening, so far it hasn’t.

That doesn’t mean it won’t, as Hayes may have some motivation to sign a long-term deal to get some security before he’s really done anything in the league and the Pelicans might want to lock in a high-ceiling guy at a discount rate.

But even if they do extend Hayes, there’s a possibility that he could be moved at some point in the season, as he’d be ideal trade bait to a rebuilding team that might want to take a flyer on a still-young big man like Hayes and might have a veteran to give up that would help the Pelicans.

Hayes is a another guy whose contract could be needed to make a trade and who doesn’t come with any long-term financial obligations. If New Orleans is not serious about extending him, then it makes sense to move him before he could possibly walk for nothing.

There is always the possibility that Hayes is extended or he plays well enough that the Pelicans want to match any offer in his restricted free agency. There are still a lot of unknowns around Hayes, and this is pretty much a make-or-break time for him when it comes to his future in New Orleans.