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

Devonte’ Graham

Devonte’ Graham is coming off one of his worst shooting seasons in the NBA and backed it up by getting into some legal trouble over the offseason, so it hasn’t been a great run for Devonte’.

The Pelicans have reportedly explored trading Graham this offseason but his declining play and trouble with the law may have made him a tough sell.

Not to mention his contract, which is due to pay him $11.5 million this season, $12.1 million in 2023-24 and a partially guaranteed third year at $12.6 million. That’s not great value for a guy whose scoring has gone down the last two seasons, who shot 34 percent from 3-point range and was teetering on the fringes of the rotation by the end of last season.

But that doesn’t mean Graham won’t be traded, as Graham has the biggest contract of any of the non-core players and it would almost certainly be needed if the Pelicans want to make a trade for an impact player at some point.

The Pelicans also have plenty of draft picks they could attach as a sweetener to Graham’s deal if necessary. But it would be much better for him and the team if he came back and became an impact scorer off the bench.

His contract and potential fit make Graham the most likely to be traded this season but the Pels may have to exercise patience and let him show he can be a quality 6th man for someone.