- Kawhi Leonard joins the New Orleans Pelicans in this trade scenario
- The superstar makes the Pelicans a championship contender
- The Los Angeles Clippers will get a durable player in CJ McCollum
The New Orleans Pelicans are a team that has underwhelmed expectations ever since Zion Williamson has gotten drafted. They only have one playoff appearance since 2020, and it is clear that this is quite disappointing for a team with that much talent.
The team has the talent, but clearly needs some guidance on how to win at the highest level. Perhaps a trade for a proven superstar like Kawhi Leonard makes sense for the franchise. He has shown that he can win as the leading superstar and is someone that leads by example. Here is a potential trade framework that sends Kawhi Leonard to New Orleans.
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Kawhi Leonard, Amir Coffey
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Jordan Hawkins, 2024 First-Round Pick (NOP), 2024 First-Round Pick (LAL)
There is no doubt that the New Orleans Pelicans would have to move a lot of assets to the Los Angeles Clippers in this scenario, for a player that could end up being a one-year rental. However, the risk is absolutely worth it. Let’s dive into why this trade makes sense for both teams.
The New Orleans Pelicans Become A True Championship Contender
There is no doubt that Kawhi Leonard is a proven basketball player that shows up in the playoffs and delivers in the big moments. He is also a no-nonsense professional, who takes his craft extremely seriously. That is the sort of veteran that Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson need on the team: someone respected who has championship experience, and who can teach them how to play championship-level basketball.
On the court, it is clear that Kawhi Leonard is still an All-NBA player. Last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, Kawhi Leonard averaged 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting 41.6% from 3PT range. Adding him to a core that features Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson could end up being the move that wins the Pelicans a championship.
The basketball fit in this scenario seems pretty simple: the team could make Brandon Ingram the point guard, and have him consistently set up Zion Williamson and Kawhi Leonard for looks. Ingram has shown that he can be a point forward over the last few seasons, while Williamson and Leonard are both quality scorers.
The main risk with this team is that Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, and Brandon Ingram are all injury prone. In some ways, this is an all-or-nothing trade. However, the upside with this star trio is absolutely immense, especially for a small-market team like the Pelicans. At some point, the team has to make a move to try and win, rather than relying on internal development.
Of course, there is also a chance that Kawhi Leonard will end up leaving at the end of the 2023-24 season, by declining his $48.8 million player option. However, if the New Orleans Pelicans offer him a long-term guaranteed deal at the max rate, that would be hard for him to refuse, especially given his injury history. On top of that. Kawhi Leonard would have two younger stars going forward, who could keep the team competitive even as he declines. The chance to have an extended championship window and a long-term contract could be appealing factors Kawhi Leonard considers in free agency.
At the end of the day, if a player like Kawhi Leonard becomes available, he is worth taking a chance on. The New Orleans Pelicans would be able to cash in on some of their assets while retaining some draft picks and young players for the future.
The Los Angeles Clippers Retool Around Paul George And CJ McCollum With An Eye Towards The Future
It is fair to say that Kawhi Leonard’s era in Los Angeles has not yielded desired results for the Clippers. The team’s best run featured them making the Western Conference Finals in 2021, and a lot of that was Paul George’s doing rather than Kawhi Leonard’s. Perhaps the team could decide to cash in on Kawhi Leonard’s value right now, rather than continue rolling the dice on their current star pairing.
The main player that the Los Angeles Clippers would get back in this deal is CJ McCollum. He is a solid veteran guard, who has been a consistent scorer throughout his career. CJ McCollum had a productive 2022-23 season, averaging 20.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists while shooting 38.9% from 3PT range. Most importantly, McCollum played 75 games last season, and durability is certainly something the Clippers will be looking for.
Dyson Daniels and Jordan Hawkins are both lottery picks that could play key minutes on the Los Angeles Clippers. Dyson Daniels profiles as a multi-positional defender, while Hawkins came into the 2023 NBA Draft as one of the best 3PT shooters in his class. They are both players with upside and would give the Clippers some flexibility for the future.
On top of the player component of this deal, the Los Angeles Clippers would also get two first-round picks from the New Orleans Pelicans. That would replenish some of the draft capital they have used in recent memory, and getting two first-round picks for a player that could leave in free agency is absolutely worth it.
If the Los Angeles Clippers don’t believe that Kawhi Leonard can lead them to a championship anymore, then the right move is to trade him for the best possible package. The New Orleans Pelicans’ offer will definitely be among that number and would give the Clippers the assets to potentially retool around Paul George and the remaining veteran on the roster.
This Is A High-Risk, High-Reward Trade For The New Orleans Pelicans
There is no doubt that this trade would involve the New Orleans Pelicans basically hoping that their three stars stay healthy long enough for the team to win a championship. It would certainly be risky, but a trio of Kawhi Leonard, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson could be too tough to pass up.
We have often seen high-risk moves pay off for franchises. The Lakers won by swinging big for Anthony Davis in 2020. The Raptors won by making a huge trade for Kawhi Leonard himself in 2019. The time is now for the New Orleans Pelicans to dream big, and adding Kawhi Leonard could allow them to compete with powerhouses like the Phoenix Suns or the Denver Nuggets.
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