Kevin Durant’s trade request has turned the NBA world upside down. A lot of teams are scrambling to try and find a way to get him on their roster, as he is clearly one of the top superstars in the league.
A team that has been connected with Kevin Durant is the New Orleans Pelicans. They could definitely offer up a top-tier package for Durant if they were to include Brandon Ingram in the deal.
However, even though the Pelicans have the ability to get Kevin Durant, that doesn’t mean they will do so. A recent report from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype has revealed that NBA executives don’t believe the Pelicans will “make a strong push” for Kevin Durant because they have two young stars in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram locked up to long-term contracts.
The Pelicans have assets to get Durant, but multiple NBA executives don’t think a small market team like New Orleans would make a strong push for Durant since they have two young All-Stars in Zion Williamson signed to an extension and Brandon Ingram signed through the next three seasons. Other rival executives believe Durant wouldn’t want to be traded to New Orleans.
It makes sense for the New Orleans Pelicans to try and develop their core, rather than risking all of their assets for a superstar that could potentially end up being unhappy in New Orleans.
With Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the New Orleans Pelicans have a bright future. They could potentially be a championship-contending team a few years from now. They have drafted well in recent memory, to try and put win-now young players such as Herb Jones next to their stars. Hopefully, we see it all come together in New Orleans, and the Pelicans could be a special team down the line.
