4 possible trade targets for the New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans: Trades with the Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are one of the surprise teams in the NBA so far, as they have started 5-2 and don’t look like a team that is tanking for Victor Wembanyama as many expected after they traded away their two best players in the offseason.
The Jazz have already beaten the Pelicans, so until further notice, I don’t think any of their players are up for grabs in trades. But it’s also possible that the Jazz will have come back to Earth by the trade deadline and will look to move some of their veteran players for assets and picks.
They have two possibilities for New Orleans, with one being more realistic than the other.
Kelly Olynyk
Olynyk would be a nice fit with the Pelicans as a stretch-big who can play both center and power forward. He’s the kind of player who can carry a team offensively in stretches, present mismatches for the other team and won’t kill you on defense.
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He’s making just over $12 million this season and then only has a partially guaranteed second year, so the Pels could take him on without taking on any long-term salary. Depending on where the Jazz are in the standings, they might be willing to move Olynyk for Jaxson Hayes to take a flyer on a high-ceiling young project.
Hayes and Garrett Temple should be enough to net Olynyk if the Jazz start tanking. Olynyk is a more reliable offensive option than Hayes and has been red-hot to start the season, shooting 64 percent from long range.
Lauri Markkanen
This would definitely be an all-in move for a lot of reasons. Markkanen has looked like an All-Star so far this season, and would be a great fit on the Pelicans.
But he is locked up for more money and years and Utah may see him as part of their future plans, so prying him away would cost way more. The Pelicans would probably have to pile two first-round picks (the Milwaukee pick and swap) on top of Hayes and Devonte’ Graham to get it done, as Markkanen is still young and looks to be entering his prime. At this point, the Jazz would probably want Dyson Daniels instead of Hayes, but that would likely be a non-starter for the Pels.
Markkanen has also had some injury history that adds to his risk, which is why I don’t see this one happening. But he would make the Pelicans the best offensive team in the league and give them some depth for either Zion or Ingram. It’s a moot point unless Utah starts losing, so they will be a team to watch in the standings as the season progresses.