The New Orleans Pelicans, under Joe Dumars' leadership, have made their fair share of questionable moves this offseason. Many viewed trading up to draft Derik Queen as a mistake, as New Orleans gave up an extremely valuable first-round pick, as well as pick No. 23, to acquire the polarizing prospect. Some fans have also questioned the Jordan Poole trade as they feel he can't contribute to winning.
However, I'm tired of always having to discuss the negatives surrounding the Pelicans, as over the past several years, they have made some brilliant roster moves.
Outside of all the transitions and decisions the Pels have made the past 10 years. These three moves stand out as ones that have aged like fine wine.
#1 Trading away E.J. Liddell
The New Orleans Pelicans originally drafted E.J. Liddell in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft. He went on to tear his ACL in that year's league and missed his entire rookie season. Liddell would then make his debut in the season opener of the 2023-24 season. He would split most of his time between the G League and the NBA during that season.
Then, during the 2024 offseason, New Orleans would include Liddell in a package for Dejounte Murray. While this trade hasn't aged well due to the step Dyson Daniels took last season and Murray tearing his Achilles midway through the season, moving on from Liddell has proven to be a great decision.
Since being traded to the Hawks, Liddell has bounced around from the Suns to the Bulls and is currently a free agent, despite playing for the Nuggets during summer league.
As far as his play has looked during his time in Vegas, it's been very mediocre. Against the Toronto Raptors, Liddell was trash-talking and taunting throughout the entire game. He then got ejected late in the 4th quarter for aggressive fouling Ja'Kobe Walter on a total non-basketball play.
His actions alone in that game against the Raptors show me that the Pelicans made the right move by cutting ties with him.
#2 Trading away Tyreke Evans
Tyreke Evans...man, how the mighty have fallen. I once thought he was going to be a top 25 player in the league after the rookie season he put together. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2010 for the Sacramento Kings, he ended up in New Orleans as part of a sign-and-trade deal during the 2013 offseason.
Evans would spend 3.5 seasons with the Pelicans before being traded back to the Sacramento Kings in the 2016-2017 season as part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade. Moving on from Evans would prove to be a good decision, as following the trade back to the Kings, he would only spend two more seasons in the NBA.
Evans signed with the Grizzlies during the 2017 offseason, where he would show flashes of his former self, averaging just under 20 points per game. He followed this season up by joining the Pacers, where he would eventually get suspended and banned by the NBA for two years for violating the NBA/NBPA anti‑drug program.
This shows just how fortunate the Pelicans were to part ways with Evans when they did.
#3 Trading away CJ McCollum
Now I know we don't know for certain that the McCollum-Poole swap will ultimately benefit the Pelicans in the long term. That being said, I feel I can confidently say it will. While McCollum feels a leadership need for the Wizards, his offensive output will likely take a step back.
This makes trading an aging veteran like CJ for a much younger, better guard in Poole an excellent move for the Pelicans. Poole is coming off a career year, averaging 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in just 29.4 minutes a game.
While I can't confirm with certainty that this trade will age well for the Pelicans. I believe I can make an educated guess that Poole will have a much larger impact for New Orleans this season and for years to come than McCollum could.