New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans present another sign-and-trade opportunity for the Miami Heat. Their point guard, Lonzo Ball, is entering restricted free agency. The team is hellbent on building a contender around Zion Williamson, especially after some reports leaked that his family doesn’t want him in New Orleans long-term.
Allowing Ball to sign an offer sheet and walk for nothing in restricted free agency would not be a smart move. Working out a sign-and-trade should he leave would be prudent and Tyler Herro could be a centerpiece of a return package.
Herro would bring some scoring punch to the Pelicans’ backcourt, giving them another young, intriguing player to develop alongside Kira Lewis Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
There could be immediate minutes available to Herro with the Pelicans, as Josh Hart is also entering restricted free agency and sounds likely to price himself out of town.
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Playing alongside Williamson and Brandon Ingram would make life easy for Herro, as none of the Pelicans’ defensive attention will be focused on him. He could carve out a role as the team’s sixth man, something he found success doing with the Heat.
