The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to be extremely active ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season's trade deadline. It was thought that the team might have begun getting busy after December 15, when the newly signed free agents from the previous offseason became eligible to be dealt, however, the entire league had been quiet for the first couple of weeks following that date.
That changed on Sunday, December 29, as the Los Angeles Lakers made a swap with the Brooklyn Nets to upgrade their roster before the New Year. The Lakers sent D'Angelo Russell and three second-round picks to the Nets in return for 3-and-D wing Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
This deal could wind up being the domino that pushes everything into motion and really launches the start of trade season. We could see the Pelicans follow suit by trading away some of their veteran pieces, as they'll have a lot of ground to cover considering that they're open to trading away nearly the entire roster outside of a few young pieces. But, this trade between the Lakers and Nets has also outlined a sobering reality that might dash the hopes of the Pelicans and their faithful.
This season's trade market might not be very fruitful for sellers
The Pelicans are approaching the trade deadline with a smorgasbord of strong veterans for sale. Between Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum, they could have the hottest assets available, at least for any teams looking to add on-ball scoring talent. Just with those three pieces, New Orleans should expect to get back a king's ransom in return if they can find buyers for them.
Generating interest shouldn't be a problem for Vice President David Griffin and the rest of the Pelicans' brass. Zion is a generational prospect and has proven to be a dominant force in this league when he's healthy. Any team in search of a true superstar either to complement an existing one or form the nucleus of their roster should be in hot pursuit of Big Z.
Brandon Ingram might not have the esteem to command the four-year, $200 million contract extension he's seeking, but he should still be a desirable talent. 6'9 wings who can score at all three levels and create plays for others don't grow on trees. He might never make an All-NBA team, but he's a consistent 20-25 points and 4-6 assists per game which isn't easy to find in this league. Any team needing more scoring juice on their flanks should be putting in calls for Ingram.
CJ McCollum has proven to be an ideal third wheel during his time in New Orleans. He came to the Pelicans and expanded his game, becoming a more lethal outside shooter and capable playmaker in order to better fit next to Zion and Ingram. He'd make a perfect third star for any team looking to compete for the title.
Unfortunately, even though they're loaded with valuable players that they're willing to trade, the Pelicans might not find any deals that they like this season. Dorian Finney-Smith was one of the few 3-and-D wings on the market, making him a truly hot commodity in the NBA considering how impactful his archetype can be for a playoff team. Despite his high positional value and the supply and demand falling in the favor of the Nets, Brooklyn was unable to land a first-round pick that they liked for DFS's services.
Reportedly, they turned down a top-17 protected 2025 first-round selection from the Memphis Grizzlies in favor of the Lakers' package. It goes to show how scarce the buyer market is this season if a team wasn't willing to outbid D'Angelo Russell and three second-round picks for one of the most coveted players on the block.
Marc Stein echoed this sentiment in regards to the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards on The Stein Line:
"Brooklyn's inability to acquire a first-round pick for either Schröder or Finney-Smith highlights the challenges that Chicago and Washington face in their efforts to generate first-round trade compensation in return for Nikola Vučević and Kyle Kuzma, respectively."
Of course, Zion, BI, and CJ are all much better players than Dorian Finney-Smith, however, being more talented doesn't always make someone a more desirable piece in the NBA. Zion, BI, and CJ would all be harder to trade for, due to their roles and salaries compared to DFS. With the buyers this season looking scarce and rather frugal, the Pelicans might not find any offers they like for their valuable pieces.