The New Orleans Pelicans have practically been a key player on the trade market since the inception of the Zion Williamson era in the Big Easy. Whether it's pundits surmising that Z should play in a larger market or fans proposing that the Pels break up the awkward fit between Williamson and Brandon Ingram, there have been a lot of hypothetical deals proposed involving New Orleans in the past few years.
Those talks only increased in this past summer with Ingram entering the final year of his contract without getting an extension done in the offseason. It had been long surmised that New Orleans would be best off moving off of Ingram to find a better fit next to Zion. With Ingram slated for unrestricted free agency after the season unless he signs an extension, it made it seem like an inevitability that he would be traded before February's deadline.
Well, Ingram's departure suddenly doesn't look imminent anymore due to the Pelicans' horrid start to the season, his questionable status as a championship-level piece, and his latest injury. Even if BI winds up sticking around, New Orleans should still be active in trade talks this season. It's clear that this roster needs work. Moving Jose Alvarado before the deadline this year needs to be a priority for the Pelicans to maximize his value.
Trading Jose Alvarado this season needs to be a priority for the Pelicans
Right before the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, Jose Alvarado signed a two-year, $9 million extension with the Pelicans, with the second season of that deal being a player option. At just an average annual value of $4.5 million, in this new league economy, Alvarado's contract is one of the most team-friendly agreements in the NBA.
Of course, his new salary won't kick in until the 2025-26 season, after this current campaign is over. This year, he's still playing on his minimum, $1.8 million figure.
Because he's still on a minimum salary, Alvarado can be traded to any other team in the league, regardless of their financial situation. Then, after this season, his $4.5 million figure will kick in, making him a valuable asset for matching salaries for any further moves his new team might want to make.
His current contract situation makes Alvarado and his deal exponentially more desirable this season as a trade piece than after his minimum salary expires. Moving him before the upcoming trade deadline in February will also give the Pelicans much more options in terms of buyers.
Once Alvarado's no longer on his minimum salary, a slew of teams won't be able to acquire him as easily, including teams in or near the second luxury tax apron which are mostly contenders that could use a defensive-minded spark plug like Grand Theft Alvarado off of their bench. This season, though, while he's still making just the league minimum, any team can trade for him which opens a world of possibility for New Orleans and makes it imperative that the Pelicans strike now while the iron is hot.