Ranking 5 potential offseason trade partners for the Pelicans

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland is the preferred trade partner for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Darius Garland is one of two main reasons. Cleveland is likely to retain Donovan Mitchell on a massive long-term extension, and Garland may get squeezed out. The fit between Mitchell and Garland has proven successful, but handing Mitchell a long-term contract also hands him the keys to the franchise and rumors are that he wants Garland out.

Garland, like Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, would fit in nicely with the Pelicans. Everything I stated about the Hawks duo also rings true for Darius Garland. The real sticking point in a potential trade with Cleveland comes from the center position.

If New Orleans can land Jarrett Allen in a deal along with Darius Garland, New Orleans would be set up to slay giants in the West. Zion Williamson's playmaking ability would pair perfectly with a rim-running, lob-catching big like Allen. On the defensive end, New Orleans' lack of rim protection was exposed time and time again, and Allen would clear that up quickly. His interior presence would free up Zion and Garland to dominate on offense and allow Jones and Murphy to guard the tougher matchups on that end.

A deal of Brandon Ingram, Dyson Daniels, Willy Hernangomez's cap hold, and a future first for Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen would transform the Pelicans into a true contender in the West overnight. That would slide CJ McCollum to a true sixth man role (where I believe he would thrive) and give New Orleans a deadly starting lineup to fill in the pieces around.