PELICANS SEND:
SG CJ McCollum,
Any combination of 8 first round picks between 2022-2026
JAZZ SEND:
SG Donovan Mitchell
Similar to the Thunder, the Pelicans have a ton of draft capital to play with. They have 10 first round picks over the next 5 years and have access to as many as 8 to use in a trade. And while there’s no way they send out all of them, being flush with picks can only help if you find yourself in a bidding war.
The Pelicans may have added motivation to get a deal like this done considering there have been rumblings that young stud-yet-oft-injured Zion Williamson isn't satisfied with remaining in New Orleans long term. However, after signing a 5-year max extension with the Pelicans this offseason, the team has a little bit of breathing room on that front and could see this as their championship window.
This could push New Orleans’ front office into maximum overdrive in an attempt to surround Zion with suitable talent on the court to make a run. They took a stab at doing just that last season when they traded for then-Trailblazer swingman CJ McCollum. McCollum is a quality piece and played well in his short time with the Pelicans, averaging 24.3 points per game in his 26 games with the squad.
However, being considerably younger (5-year age gap) and considered the better all-around offensive player, Mitchell could certainly pique the interest of New Orleans, and perhaps also Zion as a long-term running mate.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN:
For this trade to work, Utah would have to be willing to receive McCollum, who will be earning over $33 million each of the next two seasons. While possible, it’s hard to see the Jazz being particularly excited to take in a 30-year-old guard to rebuild with. This deal would probably come down to how many draft picks New Orleans is willing to send.
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