The New Orleans Pelicans are at a crossroads. Jonas Valanciunas is a free agent they do not intend to re-sign. CJ McCollum is an aging off guard who's been forced into playing point guard. Brandon Ingram has been underwhelming and trade rumors are swirling.
The first move of David Griffin’s tenure in New Orleans was a no-brainer: draft Zion Williamson. However, the rest of his decisions have the franchise stuck between the back end of the lottery and early playoff exits.
The Anthony Davis trade in 2019 ushered in a new era for the Pelicans as Griffin brought in Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart as well as draft picks that turned into Herb Jones, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaxson Hayes, Dyson Daniels and Didi Louzada.
Davis immediately helped LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers win an NBA title. Hayes is now on the Lakers and Ball is on the Chicago Bulls. Both Hart (New York Knicks) and Alexander-Walker (Minnesota Timberwolves) are playing an integral role on teams pushing for a title this season.
All that remains from this trade of a superstar and franchise cornerstone is a fading Ingram, who could be traded this summer, and rotation players in Jones and Daniels.
After firing Alvin Gentry for Stan Van Gundy in 2020, Griffin selected Kira Lewis Jr. in the lottery ahead of guys like Tyrese Maxey, Aaron Nesmith, Jaden McDaniels and Desmond Bane. Lewis Jr. was later traded for a second-round pick swap and cash.
New Orleans' big splash came in in 2020 via a four-team trade. The Pelicans came away with Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams and multiple first-round picks while sending out Jrue Holiday, Kenrich Williams, Darius Miller, Josh Gray and Zylan Cheatham.
The following summer, New Orleans was involved in a three-team trade sending out newly acquired Adams and Bledsoe plus a first-round pick (which became Mark Williams) and two second-round picks (Vince Williams Jr. and a 2025) in exchange for Valanciunas, Devonte' Graham and Trey Murphy III.
The next day, Ball was sent to the Bulls for Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple via a sign-and-trade. Satoransky played 32 games in New Orleans and is no longer in the NBA.
Griffin did sign current rotation player and defensive menace Jose Alvarado to a two-way deal in 2021.
At the 2022 trade deadline, Griffin flipped Hart, Alexander-Walker, Louzada, Satoransky, a 2022 first-round pick and two future second-rounders for McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell.
Prior to the 2023 trade deadline, Griffin sent out Graham and multiple second-round pick swaps for Josh Richardson, who is no longer with the team.
At the Pelicans' exit interviews, Griffin mentioned not being complacent this offseason and doing what it takes to get better. The problem is that he has never been complacent, as there's been a major addition and/or subtraction every season in hopes of building a contender in a stout Western Conference.
It is obviously no one’s fault that Zion Williamson cannot stay healthy, but heading into the 2024 offseason, the Pelicans are looking to trade Ingram and will have a 33-year-old McCollum playing out of position with Jones, Daniels and Murphy as the only pieces to show for trading two of the best players in franchise history in Davis and Holiday -- both of whom won an NBA title after departing.
The Western Conference is loaded and will only get tougher when the Memphis Grizzlies get healthy and Houston Rockets add more talent. Griffin has a tough task ahead of building his roster around a fragile Williamson. Based on Griffin's track record, perhaps the next big shake-up in New Orleans will be a front-office overhaul if he doesn't get it right this summer.
