OKC Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 2019-20 team preview
David Griffin’s hiring was a stroke of genius as he made multiple savvy moves at the draft via trades and in free agency. New Orleans projected to get the sixth or seventh pick but lucked into grabbing the top pick.
With the knowledge the Pels would select Zion, Griffin unsuccessfully tried to convince Davis to stay. When those efforts were rebuffed he kicked into full-on rebuild mode. It’s unknown whether other Davis suitors offered as much but ultimately the Lakers got their man. The package included Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, the fourth pick in 2019 and two other first-round picks. The other two picks are for 2021 and 2024.
Note: 2021 top-eight protected, would convey in 2022 otherwise, rights to swap 2023 pick, and can defer 2024 pick to 2025
How many franchises can lose their best player (and a generational talent at that) and within days of doing so be arguably a more well-rounded club? Yet, that’s precisely what the new man in charge accomplished.
Griffin jettisoned the fourth pick to the Hawks to grab three picks back and was arguably a more important and impressive move. For that, Griffin got back Jaxson Hayes (8th), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17), and Marcos Louzada Silva (35). Alexander-Walker is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cousins and it looks like talent runs in the family as NAW has impressed so much early, many are calling him the steal of the draft.
With news, Zion will miss six to eight weeks following surgery to repair a knee injury (meniscus) two of these draft picks will garner more attention and their value to the future core will become far more evident.
Having completed the Davis trade and draft portion of the offseason, Griffin turned his attention to the free agent market wisely adding 3-point sniper JJ Redick and versatile defensive big man Derrick Favors.
With the influx of talent the Pels also witnessed players exiting such as Elfrid Payton who seemed to find a fit in New Orleans. Big man Julius Randle was a tough loss given his production and work ethic but with players in the pipeline to fill his role and the money he was seeking he wasn’t a viable option.
Players Added:
Free Agency:
G: J.J. Redick
F: Nicolò Melli
Trade:
G: Lonzo Ball (trade with Lakers)
G: Josh Hart (trade with Lakers)
F: Brandon Ingram (trade with Lakers)
F/C: Derrick Favors (trade with Jazz)
Rookies:
F: Zion Williamson (No. 1)
C: Jaxson Hayes (No. 8, via trade with Hawks)
G: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (No. 17, via trade with Hawks)
G: Marcos Louzada Silva (No. 35, via trade with Hawks)
Departing Players:
Free Agents:
G: Dairis Bertans (waived)
G: Elfrid Payton (signed with Knicks)
F: Cheick Diallo (signed with Suns)
F: Stanley Johnson (signed with Raptors)
F: Christian Wood (waived)
C/F: Julius Randle (signed with Knicks)
G: Ian Clark (unrestricted)
G/F: Trevon Bluiett (unrestricted)
Trade:
F/C: Anthony Davis (traded to Lakers)
F: Solomon Hill (traded to Hawks)