The New Orleans Pelicans were eliminated from the play-in tournament by the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it is clear that changes need to be made for them to succeed at the highest level. Though the team is talented, it is obvious that they need more veteran guidance and star power to become a championship-level team.
A player that they could potentially target this offseason is Kyrie Irving, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Though he had some issues with his availability during his time with the Brooklyn Nets, Irving has been stellar for the Dallas Mavericks in terms of playing games and his production on the court. Here is a potential sign-and-trade framework that sends Kyrie Irving to the Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Kyrie Irving (Sign-And-Trade)
Dallas Mavericks Receive: CJ McCollum, 2024 First-Round Pick (LAL via NOP), 2024 First-Round Pick (NOP)
There are a few ways that this deal benefits both the New Orleans Pelicans and the Dallas Mavericks. Here is why the two teams should consider making this deal during this upcoming offseason.
New Orleans Pelicans Get A Proven Veteran With Championship Experience
For all the controversies that Kyrie Irving has had, he has been the model of professionalism with the Dallas Mavericks. He reportedly wants a long-term, big-money contract this off-season, though it is hard to see a lot of teams accepting those demands. With that being said, swinging on Kyrie Irving could be the best bet for a small-market franchise like the New Orleans Pelicans in terms of adding talent and becoming a championship-level team.Â
Kyrie Irving as a point guard, would be the exact player that can empower Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram to be the best versions of themselves. He has an elite off-ball game and is a high-level shooter, averaging 37.9% from the 3PT range on 8.3 attempts a game. Irving can be effective with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram and knock down the open looks that they create within the offense while also being able to take over if the two young stars are having an off-night. This year, Kyrie Irving put up 27.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 5.3 APG. Though his numbers would go down on the Pelicans, he would still have a high impact due to the things that he does well.
The championship experience that Kyrie Irving brings to the table cannot be understated in this trade scenario. He knows what it takes to succeed in the Finals, and he has had some outstanding performances during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ championship run in 2016. Having a player like him could help teach Williamson and Ingram how to win, and perhaps he could take on a leadership role within the franchise.
The New Orleans Pelicans would have to give up CJ McCollum and draft compensation in this scenario. The draft compensation would be required for the Dallas Mavericks to take on his long-term contract and also for them to facilitate the move. Though two first-round picks are a lot to give up, it is absolutely worth it if the Pelicans get the peak version of Kyrie Irving long-term.
Dallas Mavericks Get A Solid Scorer To Replace Kyrie Irving
If Kyrie Irving decides that he wants to leave the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, then the team should explore potential sign-and-trade opportunities for the point guard. Getting CJ McCollum and multiple first-round picks would be one of the best packages out there. It would definitely be preferable to losing him for nothing in free agency.
CJ McCollum clearly isn’t as good as Kyrie Irving, but he’d be a solid replacement from a scoring standpoint. He averaged 20.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 5.7 APG for the New Orleans Pelicans this season while shooting 38.9% from beyond the arc. He could definitely play well off of Luka Doncic while also providing slightly worse shot creation than Kyrie Irving. He would be able to play with an available star who can lessen the playmaking load on him, and CJ McCollum seems like he’d thrive on the Dallas Mavericks.
The draft compensation would help make up for the assets that the Dallas Mavericks gave up in the Kyrie Irving trade, and allow them to make more moves to surround Luka Doncic with a championship-caliber roster. Adding two tradeable first-round picks is definitely a boon in this scenario, and they open up a lot of options for them in terms of future trades.
Ultimately, this is a deal that only happens if Kyrie Irving ends up agreeing to join the New Orleans Pelicans. It is a very specific scenario, but it is a scenario that will help the Dallas Mavericks.
Kyrie Irving Could Catapult The New Orleans Pelicans To Success
Adding Kyrie Irving would definitely help the New Orleans Pelicans reach new heights based on his talent. A big 3 featuring Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Kyrie Irving would immediately become one of the best in the league, and the team would likely be contending for the championship based on their talent level alone. Kyrie Irving is a dynamic player that can toggle between on-ball creation and scoring off-ball, and adding him at the PG position would give the Pelicans a player that can really unlock their young stars.
Moving off CJ McCollum is likely the optimal move for the New Orleans Pelicans. Though he is a good player, there are times when his poor shot selection hurts the team. He was brought in by the team to be a point guard, but it is clear that he has the mindset of a shooting guard. That was on full display at the end of the recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he elected to take a contested floater rather than try to set up the offense and get the ball to a teammate for a good look. On the Dallas Mavericks, he likely would succeed, though, as he would have the freedom to be a pure scorer as he has been for the majority of his career.
It is clear that this could end up being a fantastic move for both the New Orleans Pelicans and the Dallas Mavericks. If Kyrie Irving wants to join the Pelicans, this is absolutely a move that both teams should consider making.
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