When you start getting 10-15 games into an NBA season, teams' needs become glaring, and with that, trade ideas and proposals begin to emerge. This always makes for great content as fans love to read about and find out who their favorite team should trade for.
In a recent Bleacher Report article titled “1 Trade Every NBA Team Would Make If the Deadline Was Today,” Zach Buckley proposed an excellent trade idea for the Pelicans. In Buckley’s proposal, the Pelicans acquire Jarace Walker and two future second-round picks for Yves Missi.
When you look at the New Orleans Pelicans, it’s obvious this team is missing some depth on the wing and needs three-point shooting, as there's an influx of big men and guards on this roster. Coming into the year, this was a concern of mine, but the talent of Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones could combat the minimal depth they have on the wing. However, with the way Trey Murphy III has struggled offensively to start this season, adding another wing to this roster would bring a ton of value to this team.
Why Jarace Walker is the perfect fit for New Orleans
This was a big year for Jarace Walker, as with Tyrese Haliburton being sidelined for the whole season and Myles Turner's departure, Indiana needed players to step up. And when looking at his counting stats, he's having a career year, but when you shift your eyes to his efficiency, it looks ugly. Walker's shooting the ball sub-33 percent from the field and below 30 percent from three, which has started to make him almost unplayable for Rick Carlisle and the Indiana Pacers.
So why would the Pelicans buy in on a struggling third-year player who can’t seem to put a rock in the ocean right now? It’s because Jarace Walker is a former top-seven pick in the 2023 NBA draft and fits the mold of the modern NBA wing.
At 6’8”, 240 pounds, Walker has all the physical tools in the world to at minimum be a fun toolsie wing for the Pelicans' second unit. His three-point shooting was also a notable strength before this season, as he shot 40 percent from beyond the arc on just over two attempts per game during his first two years.
The Pelicans are a bottom-eight team in three-pointers made per game, and bringing in a guy who, through two of his three seasons, was a 40 percent shooter could improve that. This team also needs players who can get stops. Aside from Jose Alvarado and Herb Jones, the team doesn’t really have anyone who poses a threat from the point of attack.
So why wouldn’t New Orleans take a chance on him, especially when all they are giving up is Yves Missi? I think Missi can be a solid starting center one day, but the Pacers are desperate for some form of rim protection, so if Joe Dumars could capitalize on that and acquire Walker, he should do it. Walker has more potential and fills both a positional and a skill need.