No team in the NBA is better positioned for the future through players and draft assets than the New Orleans Pelicans. While dealing away Anthony Davis was a gut-punch to the franchise, the returning players have had immediate impacts this season and the draft capital is enormous.
As it stands, the Pelicans have at least two first round draft picks in four of the next five years. Along with that, New Orleans also has a dearth of young players of varying degrees of experience and talent. Taking all that into account, the team figures to be in the conversation any time in the near future when a superstar becomes available on the trade market.
One of the names most likely to come up next off-season is Bradley Beal, who has established himself as one of the best two-guards in the league. However, as part of a Washington side expected to be a multi-year rebuild, Beal’s name will certainly come up in trade rumors despite his recent contract extension.
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale recently took time to look at potential Beal trades and included a massive deal with New Orleans:
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Bradley Beal
Washington Wizards Receive: Nickeil Alexander-Walker; Lonzo Ball; Jaxson Hayes; New Orleans’ 2020 first-round pick (30 days after signing his contract)*; L.A. Lakers’ 2021 first-round pick (protected for Nos. 8 to 30; unprotected in 2022); Cleveland’s 2021 second-round pick; Washington’s 2021 second-round pick (via New Orleans); New Orleans’ 2022 first-round pick (unprotected)
It’s a steep asking price for Beal but the Pelicans themselves saw the going rate of a superstar player in the league. While Beal won’t command a Davis-like package, at 26 years old, Beal is in the middle of his prime and will be a contributing member of the team moving forward.
Including Lonzo Ball in the package along with multiple other young players and three first-round draft picks does seem like a bit much, though. The argument for trading Ball, though, would likely be that it would be neigh impossible to include he, Beal and Jrue Holiday in a starting lineup unless the team is also starting Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.
While that is a lineup that could work, it’s one that is exceedingly small and could be fairly easily exposed by bigger teams. Moving one of those starters to the bench in favor of another big man, though,h would be a difficult decision in itself, too.
But it’s a hypothetical scenario that seems very far into the future even if it comes to fruition. For now, the Pelicans will be focusing on the hopeful restart of the 2019-20 season and their playoff push.
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