OKC Thunder: One free agent target from every Western Conference team
New Orleans Pelicans
2021 Free Agents:
- Lonzo Ball (restricted)
- Josh Hart (restricted)
- Willy Hernangomez
- James Johnson
- Didi Louzada
- James Nunnally
2021 Draft Picks:
- Forward, Trey Murphy III (17th)
- Forward, Herb Jones (35th)
David Griffin has to be feeling the heat. His tenure with the Pelicans began under extremely fortunate circumstances as he won the Zion sweepstakes in spite of having the eighth-best odds.
But, heading into next season Zion will be playing for his third coach in as many years. For a team with so many highly touted talents and heavily featured national TV games, the fact they failed to get into the play-in is concerning.
Once again, the GM did a stellar job with the draft adding two skills the Pels needed to upgrade (defense and shooting). Griff sure seems to have been active but so far not reaping the rewards from the fruits of his labor. The Pelicans were one of the three main players aside from the incumbent Raptors said to be in the Kyle Lowry sweepstakes (Mavericks, Heat).
Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski both hit the airwaves this morning saying the Heat appear to be the definitive frontrunners to land the bulldog and it’s likely to be via a sign and trade deal.
That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill in New Orleans regarding what will happen with Lonzo Ball as John Hollinger reports of a possible “double sign and trade” deal that would send Lonzo to play with younger brother LaMelo in Charlotte who also are expected to have LiAngelo playing in Vegas with their Summer League squad.
As of posting the Bulls had pulled ahead in the likely destination for Lonzo also via a sign and trade.
With Lonzo likely off the table like most Western clubs there isn’t another appealing Pelicans free agent for Sam Presti to target.