NBA Off-Season Madness: Who do the Pelicans target next?
AD in Hollywood! LeBron James gaining another All-Star in a blockbuster trade with the Pelicans that included: Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart & this year's 4th overall pick. I really do not have any really bad thoughts about this trade for either teams. Pelicans youth movement is in full effect, as of right now this is what the Pelicans starting 5 would look like:
PG: Lonzo Ball
SG: Jrue Holiday
SF: Brandon Ingram/Zion Williamson
PF: Brandon Ingram/Zion Williamson
C: Jahlil Okafor
I'm sure they will be looking for an upgrade at the Center position, even though Okafor did have a decent season, first decent one since his arrival into the league in 2015 when he was drafted by the 76ers. Pelican's will have about $33 million in cap space, so they will have plenty to grab a Center to start over Okafor, after Julius Randle declined his option. Some of the options they have are:
Al Horford: who just declined his option from the Celtics and that dysfunctional organization, and he would provide a better offensive option than Okafor and defensive skill set that would make him a viable option for the Pelicans, only thing is, he would more than likely take up all of that $33 million in cap space, but he is just the type of veteran to play alongside Holiday that team needs and if they were able to scoop up Horford, I could see them as a dark horse to make the Playoffs next year.
Willie Cauley-Stein: If the Kings really want to lose out on this up and coming player, I would call them crazy, he had a great year last year, but they may want to focus more on Marvin Bagley III and DeAaron Fox, the two young studs for that organization, and with the emergence of Buddy Hield, and also them letting Harrison Barnes go, they may want to free up cap space to try and grab a solid veteran or two to help Harry Giles back into the thick of things after he showed glimpses of being a solid player this past year, I believe Cauley-Stein would be a great if not perfect fit in New Orleans, a strong post player and shot blocker, and you pair him up with Zion, you have two young athletic guys who can both run the floor and block shots from the paint and contest shots beyond the arc. Willie can run the floor also, and if he can work on his mid-range jumper he would become a deadly low post player who can stretch the floor.
Brook Lopez: If the pelicans want to spread the floor with a big man, why not go after the 3rd splash brother in Brook Lopez, his 3 point shooting this past year with the Bucks was absolutely a game changer for defenses all throughout the league, not only could he score in the paint, but watch out, Lopez will now start pulling up from deep now, and with the athleticism that would be surrounding him, you would have defenses scrambling all over and eventually falling asleep on Lopez at the top of the key or in the corner as he would be wide open from deep. This is would a lethal addition to the Pelicans rotation and starting 5, and he would be a great veteran that Okafor should follow and listen to, if Jahlil would be looking for a pay-day once his contract with the Pelicans ends.
There are other big man the Pelicans could target that I did not mention, but after their trade with the Lakers, I see these 3 guys as big acquisitions that they could afford and would be ideal for what the Pelicans are looking for. Either way if you are a Pelicans fan, you can not help but be ecstatic with what you received from LA with the Anthony Davis trade. Yes it sucks losing a player like AD, but you are about to bring another once in a lifetime player in Zion and they are already accepting him with open arms and everything else that city can provide for him. Zion Williamson will own New Orleans and make that city a dual sport city for the first time in a very long time, and this is exactly what this city needs is more hope and Zion brings everything and more with his arrival tomorrow night when he hears his name called first in this year's NBA Draft, showing on ESPN at 7 pm EST.