The New Orleans Pelicans need shooting. Analyzing three potential trade targets, from sharpshooters to high-upside gambles, to bolster the Pelicans' roster.
If the New Orleans Pelicans are going to win with this current core, and it appears they will try to, they will need to add talent and have some specific roles this year.
The Pelicans won't have a ton of money to spend and don't have a first-round pick thanks to their draft-night trade last season, so it leaves their options a bit limited for next year. At least one of their big moves will have to come on the trade market.
Bleacher Report's Dan Favale recently put together three trade targets for each NBA team to consider this offseason. Here is a grade each of the players suggested for New Orleans:
Boston Celtics SF Sam Hauser
If the Celtics decide to flip Hauser this offseason, that's about as perfect a fit that the Pelicans could hope for. He is a lightning rod from beyond the arc and plays at least solid defense. This New Orleans roster desperately needs to add shooting, and this move would serve that purpose.
Hauser averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds on 41.9/39.3/85.0 shooting splits. He's one of the most efficient three-point shooters in the league. He also recently signed a four-year, $45 million extension that will have three seasons left after this year.
Grade: A
Atlanta Hawks SF Corey Kispert
Kispert serves a similar purpose to Hauser, but he is less guaranteed of a hit. On the flip side, he would likely be much cheaper. The Hawks added him in hopes of another shooting option, but aren't really using him in the playoffs.
The 27-year-old averaged 9.2 points and 2.3 rebounds on 46.7/36.7/79.4. He can score from a few more ways than Hauser, but is also less of a specialist at that point. He is also far more of a liability on defense.
While it wouldn't be as much of a grand-slam of a pick, it would still be a solid move and nice consolation prize.
Grade: B
Toronto Raptors SF Gradey Dick
This is a completely different approach at tackling the same problem as Dick has a higher ceiling than the others, but also a much lower floor. He averaged 14.4 points with a lot of shots on a bad team in year two, but saw his role and production drop this season with just 6.0 points per night.
Dick has career shooting splits of 41.7/34.3/86.4. The Raptors would probably like to flip him, given that he regressed a bit in their plans last year. This is a bigger swing, but could also end up with better results.