Why This Trade Makes Sense For The New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have made a couple of players on their roster available in trade talks, J.J. Redick being one of them, which is why they would be willing to trade him near the trade deadline. While he has seen his role increase over the last few weeks, Redick is still expected to be traded this season, the only question is where?
Nobody really knows what the Pelicans are looking for, as they have two All-Star talents in Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, but this team is in no shape to compete at a high-level yet in the Western Conference. Stan Van Gundy has done a pretty decent job with this group to this point in the season, but if they are truly going to contend for a playoff spot, then they are going to have to improve their overall depth.
Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball account for about 56% of the Pelicans total scoring every night, which can be somewhat alarming. This team does not have much scoring depth and when one of these guys has an off-night, it is almost expected that they are going to lose the game since they do not have others they can turn to for immediate production.
This is why adding overall depth to their roster in Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber would make a lot of sense in terms of trading away J.J. Redick. Behind Ingram and Zion, the Pelicans do not have virtually anyone on the wing or in their frontcourt they can turn to for production, which is why this trade makes sense.
RELATED: NBA Trade Rumors: Mavericks, Nuggets eyeing trade with Pelicans for JJ Redick
Dorian Finney-Smith is a “3-and-D” wing that thrives in catch-and-shoot situations, as does Maxi Kleber. While Kleber is not much of a factor defensively, he has made a name for himself being a big man that is really good at stepping out on the perimeter and knocking down three-point shots.
The only way the Pelicans make the playoffs in the West this season is if they look to add more overall scoring depth and while Finney-Smith and Kleber are not going to average double-digit scoring figures, they are more than capable of knocking down clutch shots off-the-bench in big moments. For this reason alone is why trading JJRELATED: Redick to the Mavericks makes sense for the Pelicans.
