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With some trade rumors about Lonzo Ball, the Oklahoma City Thunder could take a chance on the young guard.
The New Orleans Pelicans could use him to acquire an aging star.
A trade centered around Ball and Thunder point guard Chris Paul could help both teams achieve goals: Oklahoma City could get a look at a point guard who has potential but not yet proven himself, while the Pelicans could get a burst that would almost certainly make them postseason-bound.
Here’s what a deal could look like:
The proposal:
Thunder receive: Lonzo Ball, 2021 lottery-protected pick
Pelicans receive: Chris Paul
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Why the Thunder do it
How good can the eldest Ball brother become? That’s a question that has still not yet been answered. He has shown flashes, particularly with his passing and defense, but his shooting is still lacking three years into his career.
As he approaches restricted free agency, Oklahoma City could properly evaluate him and see if he is the guard they want to pair next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the long haul.
Such a duo is intriguing because of their size. Both are tall, long guards who are good defenders. That would be hard to match up against. Both need to improve shooting, however — and this one year tryout could be good: If it works, great. They’re set at guard. If not, the Thunder are worse because of it, and their 2021 draft pick will be better.
The salary also works in their favor. Oklahoma City would cut $30 million off their payroll, which would ensure they stay under the cap this season.
Then, they get the Pelicans’ protected pick. With Paul, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, it’s tough to imagine they wouldn’t make the playoffs, which would leave Oklahoma City with yet another 2021 pick and another trade piece.
Why the Pelicans do it
Re-read the second sentence of that last paragraph.
Chris Paul, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson together.
Paul and Jrue Holiday as the guards. That defense is monstrous. Both are strong offensive players.
The guard can also help center Jaxson Hayes develop. Paul and Nerlens Noel were among the top alley-oop combos in the league last season, and the longtime veteran can show Hayes little ways to get better positioning in the post.
Paul would be reunited with J.J. Reddick. Those six, plus the No. 13 draft pick and a free agent signed with the mid-level exception, puts this team in serious playoff contention. If the Pelicans want to make the playoffs as soon as possible, this is the way to do so.
Plus, as long as Paul continues playing well, his contract should still be tradable next season should the Pelicans find themselves in the sweepstakes for a star in the 2021 free agency.
Why the Thunder don’t do it
Bringing on Ball is a risk because if the Thunder don’t like him enough to match a contract when he’s a restricted free agent following this season, they would have ended up trading Paul for a first-round pick that would likely be in the 20s. There’s potentially better return out there.
Why the Pelicans don’t do it
Trading for Paul limits other spending. This deal works because, assuming they don’t pick up Darius Miller’s guaranteed contract, the payroll would stand at around $106 million. There are reports the salary cap will be around $109 million. That space would be gone after the draft.
Then, New Orleans still has other needs. With Derrick Favors entering free agency, the organization would probably like an established center to start over Hayes, at least for another year. They would have to hope Josh Hart and Nicolo Melli continue to improve. Such a trade turns them from a team with almost $30 million in space to a team that is maxed out.
Who says no?
The Pelicans probably think they can make the postseason without Paul and turn it down. It’s certainly a risk to bring on so much money. The Thunder would try to convince them that Paul’s leadership would benefit all the young players — namely, Williamson — and his impact would be felt even after he was gone.
The Thunder experimenting with Ball is worth it, especially when considering the cap savings. If needed, they could even take on Darius Miller’s contract and see if he can regain any trade value.
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