The New Orleans Pelicans front office just received a massive reminder as to why their trade deadline approach was a disaster. Despite deciding against being a seller, the one player the Pelicans parted with, Jose Alvarado, is already excelling in his new home.
In just his third game as a member of the New York Knicks, the gritty guard led the team in scoring, with 26 points, hit eight three-pointers to go along with three rebounds, four assists, and five steals. Alvarado also made NBA history by becoming the first player ever to record 25+ points, 8+ threes, and 5+ steals in a game off the bench. On top of all this, he even had one of his classic chippy moments getting into an exchange with Philadelphia 76ers forward Trendon Watford. Also, it's worth noting that he was able to do all this in just under 19 minutes.
This performance from G-T-A is a clear sign that the Pelicans didn't get nearly enough in return for the player who was once the heart and soul of their locker room.
A failed approach from the get go
Sure, trading Alvarado was already a head-scratching move with the front office appearing to be content with their core. But if some team was willing to overpay, it could be realistic for the organization to pull the trigger and end that era. But that didn't happen. Instead, the Pelicans traded him for less than pennies on the dollar, receiving two valueless future second-round picks and a player in Dalen Terry, who they immediately waived.
When compared to what other teams got in return for guards who provide similar production and value, this return only gets worse. Seeing Minnesota give up 4 seconds, a former lottery pick in Rob Dillingham, who is already showing promise in his new opportunity with Chicago, and a young flyer in Leonard Miller for Ayo Dosunmu is ridiculous when compared to what the Knicks gave up for Jose.
I'd argue Jose is a better creator from beyond the arc than Dosunmu, a better playmaker/initiator, and a better defender when factoring in the height difference between the two. He also carries something I call the human-torch factor: in seconds, he can get hotter than lava, like on Wednesday against the 76ers.
I'm not going to argue that Dosunmu is more efficient and is probably a player I'd be willing to give up more for as a General Manager. What I'm arguing is that the market value between the two shouldn't be as different as the Pelicans made it be with that trade.
At the deadline, the Pelicans chose not to sell. They chose not to retool. And somehow, the one move they did make was shipping out one of the few players who brought edge, identity, and fire to a team stuck in NBA limbo. Seeing Jose Alvarado thriving on a playoff team is likely a feel-good moment for many fans, but it also serves as a reminder of the continued mismanagement of assets by the team's front office.