New Orleans Pelicans
Players Available via Trade: G Tomas Satoransky ($10M), C Jaxson Hayes ($5.3M), F Naji Marshall ($1.5M)
Many expected the New Orleans Pelicans to take a major step this season and possibly become a playoff threat in the Western Conference, but they have underachieved thus far because of multiple injuries.
Zion Williamson has yet to play in a game this season due to offseason foot surgery and is now not expected to return to the court until possibly 2022, according to some reports. Ingram has missed time early on with a hip injury, rookie Herbert Jones has missed time due to a concussion and this team just does not seem to have the depth we thought they did.
When Ingram and Zion return to the court, this team will begin winning games, but it could wind up being too late at that point for them to make a real playoff push. Selling off some players at the trade deadline seems likely for the Pelicans, especially since they still have some holes to fill on their roster via the draft and free agency.
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In the final year of his contract, veteran guard Tomas Satoransky is definitely going to be a player that gets some trade interest around the league, but $10M is a steep price to pay for him. He has not played much in New Orleans this season, but he was effective last year in Chicago, averaging 7.7 points, 4.7 assists, and shooting 35.6% from three-point range.
Former 2019 Top-10 pick Jaxson Hayes is also another player to keep an eye on in trade talks surrounding the Pelicans this year. Who knows what this front-office has planned in terms of adding more talent around Williamson and Ingram over the years, but Hayes does seem to be an expendable player.
Jonas Valanciunas is not going to be dethroned as the New OrleansPelicans starting center seeing as he has quietly become a Top-5 center in this league and with New Orleans just extending Willy Hernangomez’s contract through the 2023-24 season, it is hard to believe that they will want to pay and keep Hayes too.
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In 60 games last season, Jaxson Hayes averaged 7.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, and shot 62.5% from the floor. Being a lengthy and athletic big man, Hayes is a guy who could fill many different needs for a team if he is put in the right situation.
Time to continue developing is all Jaxson Hayes needs right now and while he may not be a big trade asset for contending teams around the league, the New Orleans Pelicans could look to salvage some future value for him right now since he will be entering the final year of his rookie deal next season.
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The New Orleans Pelicans are in a bad situation right now as a franchise because as they continue to lose, their superstar players are going to continue growing frustrated. It will not be shocking to see either Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram request a trade from this team in the next few seasons, similar to how Anthony Davis wanted out ahead of the 2019-20 season.
