New Orleans officially announced the closing of their trade block when they received word their gambit to pick up the lone player they believed would suit their roster without severely affecting the roster construction failed. To that end, and to make a season review cleaner and easier - a compilation of the deals executed by the Pelicans this season:
Lindy Waters III has struggled in both the CSL and the G-League so far to date - especially with his shooting, while Ben Lawson didn't even get a chance to unpack before being shipped north to Washington in a blockbuster three-team trade that saw Jose Alvarado arrive in Atlanta, where he's been brilliant for the Hawks.New Orleans Pelicans
SENDS
Draft rights to picks 23, 33 (Lindy Waters III and Ben Lawson)
Total $$$ Sent: 0
Atlanta Hawks
SENDS
Draft rights to pick 19 (Olivier-Maxence Prosper)
Total $$$ Sent: 0
Meanwhile, OMP's numbers haven't popped out on the stat sheet, but he's securely holding down the starting PF position and functioned as a net positive in the lineup - his +2.9 ON is third among the starters, and his +10 NET is only behind Tyrese Maxey among the first five.
Chuma Okeke broke out in the preseason as a versatile, 3 position player who won the backup PF spot but has since been relegated to cleanup minutes. A.J. Griffin has played SG and SF for the reserves, with one SG start, really struggling to find cohesion and mesh into a role despite excellent 3 point shooting (44.6%) and strong defensive metrics. With the Pelicans seemingly assured of a play-in appearance, look for him to get preference work and potential playing time as a starter to give him the minutes and cohesion work with the rest of the starters.New Orleans Pelicans send
Cole Anthony: $3,185,342
New Orleans Pelicans receive
AJ Griffin - $1,808,200
Chuma Okeke - $1,590,000
San Antonio Spurs 2033 2nd round pick
San Antonio Spurs 2035 2nd round pick
Total Salary Sent: $3,185,342
Total Salary Received - $3,398,200
San Antonio Spurs send
AJ Griffin - $1,808,200
Chuma Okeke - $1,590,000
San Antonio Spurs 2033 2nd round pick
San Antonio Spurs 2035 2nd round pick
San Antonio Spurs receive
Cole Anthony: $3,185,342
Meanwhile, Cole Anthony has been a horribly inefficient volume shooter for the Spurs and he has similarly performed poorly from a fit perspective, but his defensive metrics continue to look better than the eye test suggests. San Antonio will have a decision to make this offseason on whether to retain him.
Anthony Gill has been a solid, net positive rotational piece as a backup wing for the red-hot Bulls and Chicago would doubtless like to try and bring him back.New Orleans Pelicans send
Anthony Gill - $853,623
New Orleans Pelicans receive
Mouhamed Gueye - $1,033,600
Pelicans have cap space to absorb difference
Chicago Bulls send
Mouhamed Gueye - $1,033,600
Chicago Bulls receive
Anthony Gill - $853,623
Mouhamed Gueye cemented himself as the backup PF purely due to lack of other options and has so profoundly stunk, it's a wonder he still is getting court time. But New Orleans is being patient since it's his just second season, and he only made 8 appearances in his rookie season.
2020, 2023, 2027, 2035