Mock Off-Season: New Orleans Pelicans

[ReggiesKnicks]

NBA Draft
#4 Pick - V.J. Edgecombe

Notable Free Agents
Bruce Brown (UFA)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (UFA)

Contract Negotiations

N/A

Total Salary: 172,907,247

NBA Salary Cap: 154,647,000
NBA Tax Line: $187,895,000
NBA 1st Apron: $195,945,000
NBA 2nd Apron: $207,824,000

Transactions

Blockbuster Trade!

DeAndre Ayton, Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe, #10, 2026 1st Swap expunged, 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 1st Swap expunged, 2029 MIL 1st, 2030 1st Swap expunged, 2031 POR 1st Swap
Anfernee Simons, 2030 POR 1st to New Orleans
Giannis Antentokounmpo, C.J. McCollum to Portland
2029 1st (Changed from 2nd of MIL/POR/BOS to Best of POR/BOS) to Washington

Trey Lyles (2/14 Million)

Total Salary: 185,265,552

Roster/Rotation
DeJounte Murray / Anfernee Simons / Jose Alvarado
Trey Murphy III / V.J. Edgecombe / Jordan Hawkins
Herb Jones / Antonio Reeves / Brandon Boston Jr
Zion Williamson / Trey Lyles / Min Vet
Yves Missi / Kelly Olynyk / Karlo Matkovic

New Orleans approach may be the final season we see the Zion experiment on opening night. All things considered, this is the most balanced New Orleans team of the Zion era. Continuity has reigned supreme the past few seasons in the NBA as Continuity continues to be a hallmark of the teams who have made deep runs in the post-season.

The cost of the trade for New Orleans is trading away the right to a swap in 2026 and better of two firsts in 2027 for the upgrade of C.J. McCollum to Anfernee Simons and a future 1st in 2030.

Staying and picking in the draft and grabbing a supremely athletic wing is straightforward for a Zion future or Zionless future.

Blockbuster Trade Breakdown:

Milwaukee In:
DeAndre Ayton
Scoot Henderson
Donovan Clingan
Shaedon Sharpe
#10
2026 1st Swap expunged
2027 MIL 1st
2028 1st Swap expunged
2029 MIL 1st
2030 1st Swap expunged
2031 POR 1st Swap

Milwaukee Out:
Giannis Antentokounmpo

Portland In:
Giannis Antentokounmpo
C.J. McCollum

Portland Out:
Donovan Clingan
Scoot Henderson
Shaedon Sharpe
Anfernee Simons
DeAndre Ayton
2025 POR 1st (#10)
2028 MIL 1st Swap
2029 MIL 1st
2029 BOS/POR 1st (Slight change on which pick is outgoing: Changed from retaining 2 of 3 picks to 1 of 2 picks)
2030 MIL 1st Swap
2030 POR 1st
2031 POR 1st Swap

New Orleans In:
Anfernee Simons
2030 POR 1st

New Orleans Out:
C.J. McCollum
2026 MIL 1st Swap
2027 Better of MIL/NOP 1st

Washington In:
2029 1st (Best of POR/BOS)

Washington Out:
2028 MIL 1st Swap
2029 1st (2nd from MIL/POR/BOS 1st)

[Godaddycurse]

CJ for Simons seems lateral/don't really see the point. i rather have my own (or MIL if they are worse) 2027 1st if i was NOP than 2030 POR 1st. they may have t orebuild and need their own pick in 2027

[BlazersBroncos]

That ending PDX team would be very low on talent, and they would have no FRP to burn in a trade for improvements. Is this really a team Giannis would be happy with?

G - CJ McCollum
G - Toumani Camara / Matisse Thybulle
F - Deni Avdija / Jerami Grant / Rayan Rupert
F - Giannis / Kris Murray
C - Duop Reath

IR Robert Williams III

That team isnt even HCA in the West IMO.

PDX is better letting the cake bake than paying this price for Giannis.

[ReggiesKnicks]

That ending PDX team would be very low on talent, and they would have no FRP to burn in a trade for improvements. Is this really a team Giannis would be happy with?

G - CJ McCollum
G - Toumani Camara / Matisse Thybulle
F - Deni Avdija / Jerami Grant / Rayan Rupert
F - Giannis / Kris Murray
C - Duop Reath

IR Robert Williams III

That team isnt even HCA in the West IMO.

PDX is better letting the cake bake than paying this price for Giannis.

PDX would likely convey their 2026 1st to Chicago. This unlocks 2027 1st, 2028 1st, 2029 1st. They also have 2032 1st unlocked, though I don't think they utilize it.

The trade does strip the depth of a lottery team, but this gives Portland only 2 years to build and this roster is probably to weak to seriously contend out West. I understand the hesitancy from Portland.

[BlazersBroncos]

That ending PDX team would be very low on talent, and they would have no FRP to burn in a trade for improvements. Is this really a team Giannis would be happy with?

G - CJ McCollum
G - Toumani Camara / Matisse Thybulle
F - Deni Avdija / Jerami Grant / Rayan Rupert
F - Giannis / Kris Murray
C - Duop Reath

IR Robert Williams III

That team isnt even HCA in the West IMO.

PDX is better letting the cake bake than paying this price for Giannis.

PDX would likely convey their 2026 1st to Chicago. This unlocks 2027 1st, 2028 1st, 2029 1st. They also have 2032 1st unlocked, though I don't think they utilize it.

The trade does strip the depth of a lottery team, but this gives Portland only 2 years to build and this roster is probably to weak to seriously contend out West. I understand the hesitancy from Portland.

I think 2 of Scoot / Sharpe / DC + 10 + all MIL picks / swaps returned would be my top offer. Obviously this gets beat if HOU is bidding Thompson and / or OKC is bidding Jalen or Chet - but if those guys are not on the table I think the above is a competitive offer.

The 2030 FRP to basically turn Simons into CJ is a no for me. Take NO out and simply send that pick to MIL if needed. This looks night and day more competitive to me -

G - Scoot Henderson / Anfernee Simons
G - Toumani Camara / Anfernee Simons
F - Deni Avdija / Matisse Thybulle
F - Giannis / Jerami Grant
C - TP MLE (Luke Kornet) / Duop Reath

[ReggiesKnicks]

That ending PDX team would be very low on talent, and they would have no FRP to burn in a trade for improvements. Is this really a team Giannis would be happy with?

G - CJ McCollum
G - Toumani Camara / Matisse Thybulle
F - Deni Avdija / Jerami Grant / Rayan Rupert
F - Giannis / Kris Murray
C - Duop Reath

IR Robert Williams III

That team isnt even HCA in the West IMO.

PDX is better letting the cake bake than paying this price for Giannis.

PDX would likely convey their 2026 1st to Chicago. This unlocks 2027 1st, 2028 1st, 2029 1st. They also have 2032 1st unlocked, though I don't think they utilize it.

The trade does strip the depth of a lottery team, but this gives Portland only 2 years to build and this roster is probably to weak to seriously contend out West. I understand the hesitancy from Portland.

I think 2 of Scoot / Sharpe / DC + 10 + all MIL picks / swaps returned would be my top offer. Obviously this gets beat if HOU is bidding Thompson and / or OKC is bidding Jalen or Chet - but if those guys are not on the table I think the above is a competitive offer.

The 2030 FRP to basically turn Simons into CJ is a no for me. Take NO out and simply send that pick to MIL if needed. This looks night and day more competitive to me -

G - Scoot Henderson / Anfernee Simons
G - Toumani Camara / Anfernee Simons
F - Deni Avdija / Matisse Thybulle
F - Giannis / Jerami Grant
C - TP MLE (Luke Kornet) / Duop Reath

I agree with most of this but you are missing a major problem, quite possibly the biggest problem and the clear elephant in the room.

Milwaukee isn't trading Giannis without getting control of their 2026 and 2027 1sts.

[BlazersBroncos]

PDX would likely convey their 2026 1st to Chicago. This unlocks 2027 1st, 2028 1st, 2029 1st. They also have 2032 1st unlocked, though I don't think they utilize it.

The trade does strip the depth of a lottery team, but this gives Portland only 2 years to build and this roster is probably to weak to seriously contend out West. I understand the hesitancy from Portland.

I think 2 of Scoot / Sharpe / DC + 10 + all MIL picks / swaps returned would be my top offer. Obviously this gets beat if HOU is bidding Thompson and / or OKC is bidding Jalen or Chet - but if those guys are not on the table I think the above is a competitive offer.

The 2030 FRP to basically turn Simons into CJ is a no for me. Take NO out and simply send that pick to MIL if needed. This looks night and day more competitive to me -

G - Scoot Henderson / Anfernee Simons
G - Toumani Camara / Anfernee Simons
F - Deni Avdija / Matisse Thybulle
F - Giannis / Jerami Grant
C - TP MLE (Luke Kornet) / Duop Reath

I agree with most of this but you are missing a major problem, quite possibly the biggest problem and the clear elephant in the room.

Milwaukee isn't trading Giannis without getting control of their 2026 and 2027 1sts.

DC to NO and those picks to MIL?

[ReggiesKnicks]

I think 2 of Scoot / Sharpe / DC + 10 + all MIL picks / swaps returned would be my top offer. Obviously this gets beat if HOU is bidding Thompson and / or OKC is bidding Jalen or Chet - but if those guys are not on the table I think the above is a competitive offer.

The 2030 FRP to basically turn Simons into CJ is a no for me. Take NO out and simply send that pick to MIL if needed. This looks night and day more competitive to me -

G - Scoot Henderson / Anfernee Simons
G - Toumani Camara / Anfernee Simons
F - Deni Avdija / Matisse Thybulle
F - Giannis / Jerami Grant
C - TP MLE (Luke Kornet) / Duop Reath

I agree with most of this but you are missing a major problem, quite possibly the biggest problem and the clear elephant in the room.

Milwaukee isn't trading Giannis without getting control of their 2026 and 2027 1sts.

DC to NO and those picks to MIL?

New Orleans just drafted Yves Missi and he was impressive. I don't think adding another 2nd year center with a 1st is their direction, but it might be enough to sure up the Center position for >20 Million AAV for the next 3 years and focus the majority of salary on 1-4 positions.