There are a big number of teams that likely want to win immediately in the Western Conference as of right now, and some of them are likely willing to make trades to separate themselves from the pack. The New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers are very likely to do so, as they are 4th and 5th in the West respectively. It makes sense for them to make win-now moves to cement their positioning for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, there are some teams who are looking to move off players, whether it is due to their contract situations or them simply not working out for the team. The Toronto Raptors have had talks about their core players already, while the Atlanta Hawks are clearly trying to move on from big man John Collins.
Perhaps these four teams could make a trade with one another. This article features a four-team trade where the Clippers and Pelicans get some win-now players while getting the Raptors and Hawks some value for players they want to move.
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Fred VanVleet, Jonas Valanciunas
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: John Collins, Gary Trent Jr.
Toronto Raptors Receive: John Wall, Reggie Jackson, Justin Holiday, 2025 First-Round Pick (NOP), 2023 Second-Round Pick (LAC), 2024 Second-Round Pick (LAC)
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Robert Covington, Devonte’ Graham, Jaxson Hayes, 2024 First-Round Pick (NOP)
This trade could potentially have benefits for all four teams, and each side ends up walking away with a solid return. Here is why the Clippers, Pelicans, Raptors, and Hawks should make this trade.
Clippers Get Key Complementary Players
The Los Angeles Clippers are a solid playoff team as of right now, and with Kawhi Leonard looking like a superstar, it is time to go all-in on this iteration of the team. The Clippers have reportedly dangled John Wall in trades that involve frontcourt additions, and have notably been linked with point guards such as Mike Conley. This trade helps them deal with both issues at once, as they would be able to get a solid point guard in Fred VanVleet, and a great offensive big man in Jonas Valanciunas.
There have been reports that have indicated Fred VanVleet is already a target for the Los Angeles Clippers, and there is no doubt that he would be good in their system as a 3PT shooter and floor general. Though he has struggled with his efficiency this year, Fred VanVleet is still a solid player, and perhaps things will be easier for him on the Clippers where he will get to play off Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. He wouldn’t have to shoulder such a huge offensive burden as he did on the Raptors, and the Clippers are a great basketball fit for him.
Jonas Valanciunas is a solid offensive hub, and he would likely thrive in a sixth-man role behind Ivica Zubac. He is a player that has the ability to average a double-double off the bench and could give the Clippers a more offensively-slanted look when he does play. He would improve their rebounding as well, particularly on the offensive end. As of right now, Jonas Valanciunas is putting up 14.8 PPG and 9.9 PG for the Pelicans in only 25.1 minutes a game.
This trade would get the Clippers two key players that can be part of their playoff rotation. They would have to give up John Wall, Reggie Jackson, and Robert Covington in this deal, and this would be a great example of a consolidation trade for them. The two second-round picks would be the minor draft compensation needed to complete this deal from the Clippers’ perspective. This is a no-brainer deal for them that would get them immediate contributors that can help them win a championship right now.
Pelicans Get An Athletic Big Man And Spark Plug Scorer
For the New Orleans Pelicans, the two key areas to address are their 3PT shooting and rim protection. They have the worst rim protection in the league as of right now based on opponent rim FG% and are bottom 10 in 3PT attempts. This trade would get them a solid rim protector in John Collins and a high-volume 3PT shooter in Gary Trent Jr. that can provide a scoring spark off the bench.
John Collins is a big man that has historically been deployed as a PF, but his skill set suggests that he should be used as a center offensively. He has also improved as a rim protector this year, and perhaps the Pelicans can offer him an opportunity to be their starting center. Offensively, John Collins is a solid interior scorer, can play as a lob threat and has shown signs of being able to stretch the floor in the past. He fits Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamon’s timelines and could address some of their issues at the center position and overall.
Gary Trent Jr. would become the Pelicans’ primary scoring threat off the bench, and could potentially close at the end of games due to his two-way prowess. Trent Jr. would provide supplementary shot creation and floor spacing. He would particularly be a good fit with Zion Williamson, as he is a high-volume 3PT shooter that can take advantage of the open looks Williamson creates.
These two players would immediately put the New Orleans Pelicans in contender talks and would help them improve in areas where they are the weakest. The Pelicans have registered interest in both of those players, and this trade would allow them to get both in one move. They would have to give up Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte Graham, and Jaxson Hayes in this deal, as well as two future first-round picks. This is a typical consolidation trade for the team as well, where they parlay a number of assets into quality role players.
Toronto Raptors Get A Solid Package For Players Who Could Leave
For the Toronto Raptors, it is key to move both Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. prior to the trade deadline. Both players technically have one year left on their contracts but could become unrestricted free agents by declining their last year as it is a player option. If the Raptors don’t feel confident in or don’t want to re-sign VanVleet and Trent Jr., perhaps it is best to move them for value.
The key thing in this deal is getting the New Orleans Pelicans’ 2025 first-round pick and the Clippers’ second-round picks. This draft compensation is a fair return for the Raptors due to both of their players’ contract situations. On top of the draft compensation, the Toronto Raptors would not be taking on any long-term salary, with John Wall’s contract being the only one that goes on beyond this season. Even that contract isn’t that bad, as the Raptors could simply decline the team option.
At this point, it is clear that the Toronto Raptors don’t have any championship aspirations with this current core. It is best for them to amass draft compensation and retool around Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes, and this trade would allow them to do just that.
The Hawks Get Off John Collins’ Contract
John Collins is a player that has been featured in trade rumors very frequently over the last few seasons. They have reportedly been willing to give him up in exchange for a solid contributor, and this deal gets them that contributor on top of a first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans.
The key players that the Atlanta Hawks would get from this deal are Robert Covington and Jaxson Hayes. In theory, Covington could immediately start for the Hawks at the PF position. He should be a better fit with the team, as he is an efficieny high-volume 3PT shooter and multi-positional defender. Though Covington has struggled with the Clippers this year, that can be attributed to his playing time being cut, and perhaps he can thrive with the Atlanta Hawks. Jaxson Hayes is an efficient big man with experience playing both the PF and the C position. He would be a solid prospect for the team to develop, and could play as a PF coming off the bench.
The 2024 first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans likely wouldn’t be the best due to them likely being a good team next year, but the Hawks desperately need draft picks so they can continue to fill out their roster around Trae Young and Dejounte Murray with late first-round prospects who are NBA ready, or a veteran that is acquired by trading picks. This pick from the Pelicans can serve multiple purposes.
Overall, this deal is a simple “value deal” to ensure that the Atlanta Hawks get a decent return for a player whose stock has gone down this year. This deal allows them to improve immediately, while also adding some flexibility for the future with Jaxson Hayes and draft compensation.
This Deal Could Help Each Team Achieve Its Goals
This trade deal could potentially pay huge dividends for all four teams involved. Both the Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans land key win-now players that can make them better teams overall. This move would solidify both as legitimate contenders.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks and the Toronto Raptors would be moving players for value deals here. The Raptors would get a package that is heavily centered on the future, while the Hawks would get a mix of immediate contributors and future assets.
It remains to be seen if the four teams involved in this trade scenario will end up coming together on a deal with this framework. There’s no doubt that this is a trade that realistically helps everyone, and we’ll see what happens in the future.
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