Pelicans Free Agency: First Two Days
Only two days have gone by in the NBA Free Agency, and let's see how they spent it.
Free Agency just started on Monday and now we play the impatient game as players are getting signed left and right by other teams. But the Pelicans made moves in this free agency period through two days, and let’s see how they did.
Lonzo Is Gone-Zo
Within the first literal 30 seconds of free agency, Lonzo Ball got his contract.
It was pretty much destined that Lonzo was going to be part of a sign and trade. Pelicans were ready to make Kira Lewis the future point guard of the team, and that was something Lonzo wanted to be: the point guard for the now and future of the team. Lonzo is good a distributing, but he doesn’t have everything. He doesn’t always attack the rim (he should, he’s actually really good at it) and acts & plays more like a wing than a point. He did want to come back and Pels wouldn’t have minded him, but there was something that they wanted to do, and Lonzo probably didn’t want that. I’ll get to more of what the Pelicans have in mind later. But let’s have a look at the return we got.
Pels fans rightfully complained about the return value back since it does seem very low. Many wanted to get the big, Lauri Markkanen, or Thad Young with a pick attached, but the Pelicans got Garrett Temple, Tomas Satoransky and a second. It was nice to get something in return since the Pelicans could have received nothing and waited for the deadline to pass for the Pelicans to match Ball’s contract, so the ball wasn’t in New Orleans’ court. The Pelicans did want Temple to serve as the veteran of the team, and Tomas adds depth to the backcourt. What will probably happen as well is that Tomas will get traded in a later date, maybe part of a future S&T with Hart or maybe attached to a different team, etc. I don’t think Tomas stays on the Pelicans for long. It’ll be interesting how the rest of the week pans out.
A Graham back in NOLA
The Pelicans were not done with adding another guard.
Pelicans make a rather surprising move adding Devonte’ Graham while also sending a lottery protected 2022 first round pick to Charlotte in return. Many Pelicans fans were not enthused about this move. The contract is favorable, and the young guard does have an opportunity to be the starting point, there is something behind it that makes sense and could frustrate a lot of people. That is David Griffin and Trajan Langdon are dead-set on having Kira Lewis being the future point guard for the Pelicans.
They went hard at Kyle Lowry and made a move to sway Chris Paul to come back into New Orleans, but both moves failed. Lowry went to Miami and Paul went to resign with Phoenix. But both of these moves had a purpose, either one was just going to be the starting point for maybe a year or two. How does it relate to Graham? Same concept.
Kira is going to be the starter for the Pelicans for years to come, but he isn’t quite ready yet. So they need a bridge starter. Lonzo wasn’t going to be that. Lonzo wasn’t going to just start for two years then be thrown aside. He wanted to be heavily involved into the future of the Pelicans, not just the present. But that wasn’t going to be the case, and that started with the team draft Kira last draft. Lowry and Paul were going to be in that same position. Had the Pelicans landed either, their contracts would have likely added an option after the second year where they can opt out. Could’ve been a team option, but the point still remains. Devonte’, as far as this post goes, might not have that option. Graham will likely be the starting point going into this season alone, and maybe the year after should Kira not be able to beat him out. And once Kira is the starter, then Devonte’ will be relegated to being the primary backup. The contract is favorable enough to where making him the sixth man at the every least is fine. It’s why they sent that first. They could’ve gone after guys like Brogdon, but they wanted just someone temporary. Graham is that temporary starter.
Now What?
I know there were other moves like retaining Didi Louzada to a four year deal after waiving him, but that’s not what many want. They want the big FA signings so I’ll give my predictions.
Josh Hart is likely gone. They want someone who can get baskets, and Hart has been a streaky shooter since his rookie year back with the Lakers. It is likely there will be a sign and trade in the process should a team be interested.
Should the Cavaliers make the move, I can see the Pelicans getting one of the disgruntled big men veterans the Cavs have. Larry Nance, Kevin Love either one would be interesting. It’ll likely be Nance because contract reasons and Love doesn't have a great one to ship off, so that’ll be a different trade altogether.
Pels also are likely going to get a third team involved in the trade they had with Memphis two days prior to the Draft. Watch Tomas get moved.
Any predictions?