The Pelicans are looking to trade up to the No. 2 or No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft with their sights set on G League guard Scoot Henderson, Shams Charania of The Stadium and The Athletic reports (Twitter video link).
New Orleans is among several teams seriously pursuing that No. 2 overall pick, according to Charania. The Hornets hold the No. 2 selection and worked out Henderson on Sunday. The 6’2″ guard averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals for the Ignite in 19 games this season. Henderson’s spotty 3-point shooting (27.5%) didn’t hurt his draft stock. He was shut down in mid-March by the Ignite.
New Orleans already has CJ McCollum at the point, though he could swing to the shooting guard spot as he did in Portland. The Pelicans drafted Dyson Daniels with the No. 8 pick last June, but Daniels posted modest stats in 59 games during his first NBA season. They also have Kira Lewis Jr., a 2020 lottery pick who returned from a major knee injury to appear in 25 games this season.
The Pelicans hold the No. 14 pick and have a bevy of future first-rounders owed to them, which they could dangle to Charlotte or the Trail Blazers, who hold the No. 3 selection. The Lakers owe New Orleans their unprotected 2024 first-rounder, which can be deferred until 2025. The Bucks owe the Pelicans their unprotected 2027 first-round pick. New Orleans also has the right to swap 2024 and 2026 first-rounders with Milwaukee.
Beyond those draft assets and McCollum, the Pelicans could offer either of their other stars (Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram) or some other young talents (Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones). It remains to be seen what type of package the Hornets (or Blazers) would pursue in order to part with their high lottery pick.
Cronin got abused the last time he dealt with the NOP, so he might be hestitant. Griffin will lose the forest for the trees, if given time, but you need to keep an eye on those trees. In any event, NOP are a team that might be able to provide POR with the type of assets POR claims to be looking for (at least when they’re claiming to want to build a contender around Dame).
If Griffin had some cajones he should bail out on Zion and trade him to Portland and get the 3rd pick and additional firsts and swaps. Of course if Zion ever gets in shape it blows up in his face, but imagine having Portland’s picks in the event Zion can’t play much and Dame ages and his play declines or gets fed up and finally is traded.
Nobody, not even Cronin, is trading #3 for Zion.
If they could manage to do it where it’s only 3 then they should risk it. If he figures things out then he not only is the guy you can pass the torch to after Dame, but he’s better then any of the other suggestions I’ve seen like Siakam.
Ultimately, I think they should keep the pick and trade Dame, but if they are intent on trading for a star it’s a good risk vs reward option.
It’d be a great move for the Blazers, but the Pelicans are’t trading Zion.
No they wouldn’t move Zion. But I’m sure they would BI…..for #3 and Simons etc would work, but I just don’t see a fit for Simons with CJ and the proposed Scoot, but I’m not sure how else it would work. May need a 3rd team. Looks good for both sides though, Dame gets a star to play with and Pels get a possible franchise replacement for the ever absent Zion.
On the flip side we could even see Hornets trade #2 for Ingram to pair with Lamelo. If Pels are serious they can easily get scoot.
Portland is either keeping #3 hoping for the future franchise cornerstone or trading it to get Dame a star that he thinks he can win with. Trading it for Zion doesn’t accomplish that as Dame would probably ask out at that point.
Scoot Henderson is going to be a star. the guy has a lot of drive to be a star which many players do not have. The Hornets better get a huge return back for a future all star.
I’d be totally fine with Charlotte trading #2 for Ingram, #14 and that Lakers pick that New Orleans owns.
I like Scoot on this team. That would be Huge for NO. I’m all in on this …… you can wait on the doughboy ……
link to upload.wikimedia.org
It’s always a smart way to Trade up
Lakers can trade Austin Reaves to Rockets for 4th pick
Not happening
Fun idea to play with but the history”s not kind for these deals happening
Last time I remember a top 5 being traded for a package not including a top 10 was 2007
Ray Allen for #5 ( Jeff Green ) DWest and Wally Zerbs . And that was a team( Bos) that had Pierce , just gotten KG and Alllen was the last piece – That ain’t New Orleans and 5 ain’t 2/3 in a draft with 3 clear top options
2009 as well, but it was considered a very weak draft that got weaker when Rubio decided to stay in Europe for at least another 2 years. MIN acquired #5 from WSH, who was, well, WSH. They decided they were good, despite their record, and were going to build around a returning Arenas.
#3 in this draft is a different level of asset (because it has a name, Scoot most likely, and he could easily have been the top pick in many drafts, and certainly last year’s draft). It’s inherent trade value is greater than all but maybe 15-20 NBA players.
100% agree these to three picks. All could be #1 picks in other drafts. Definitely worth trying
The PELS should package all those picks, trade them for cash considerations …….. then hire the best doctors/dieticians for Zion to play even half a season.
Pelicans are drunk and I’m here for it!
Ingram, CJ, Jonas and a second for Simons, Nurkic, little and 3rd pick. Then change the pelicans name. Hire a chef for Zion. Portland re-signs grant.
And lewis to Portland
Embiid was only going to play half season and always be hurt he can around. Curry and Jordan overcame injuries. Let’s give Zion the benefit of the doubt. They do have enough assets to get up to two. Charlotte has a PG. I hope the Pels can do it.
I can’t see why any NBA teams are excited or want to move up to draft anyone, no matter how good he is, under 6’3″ anymore. Just like NBA bigs who now need to shoot threes, teams need big guards who don’t weaken their defenses.