Pelicans win, lose and deal
The New Orleans Pelicans badly want to return to the playoffs this season and keep Anthony Davis happy, even though the franchise star is two summers away from being able to opt out and become a free agent.
A trade with the Bulls to bring sharpshooter Nikola Mirotic last week made it even clearer.
Just as New Orleans went for it last season by acquiring DeMarcus Cousins from Sacramento at the trade deadline, the Pelicans again made a move to capitalize on Davis’ prime. This February deal will help replace Cousins after his seasonending Achilles tendon tear.
New Orleans took advantage of Chicago’s tanking plans, which were being foiled by Mirotic. Since he returned from head injuries caused by teammate Bobby Portis’ punch (one had to go in Chicago), the Bulls went from a 3-20 team without Mirotic to a 15-13 team with him.
The Bulls’ prize in the deal is New Orleans’ 2018 first-round draft pick, which is on pace to be a mid-round selection.
That is a small price to pay for a 26-year-old ideal stretch power forward who ranks in the NBA’s top 20 scorers per 48 minutes (32.4 points) among players who play at least 24 minutes a game. Mirotic has averaged 16.8 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 43% from three-point range in 24.9 minutes a game.
He can create floor space for Jrue Holiday’s pick-and-roll plays with Davis, who grudgingly will move to center.
New Orleans general manager Dell Demps rarely gets praise, but this deal addressed Cousins’ absence and got rid of seldom-used center Omer Asik and the albatross that is his contract. Mirotic’s $12.5-million salary for 2018 is slightly more than what Asik is making, but the payout comes in the form of an actual contributor.
The deal addresses New Orleans’ immediate concerns but creates a long-term payroll log jam if the Pelicans sign Cousins this summer. New Orleans would be a luxury tax team with Cousins but Mirotic does provide some coverage and leverage for those negotiations with a player whose recovery level will be a mystery.
Mirotic will love Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry’s green light and Gentry will love that New Orleans still looks like a playoff team after the Clippers traded Blake Griffin and Utah rediscovered its winning ways.