Pelicans Insider: If N.O. wants to make trade-deadline splash, one name makes most sense

The NBA’s Western Conference standings are unusually close this late in the season.

As of Friday, only three games separated the fourth-place Dallas Mavericks from the 13th-place Oklahoma City Thunder. The standings are so jumbled, two good or bad weeks can be the difference between being in contention to host a first-round playoff series in April and falling out of the play-in tournament picture altogether.

The New Orleans Pelicans were in second place in the West at the start of January, but after losing 15 of 18 games, they have dropped to 10th. As Thursday’s NBA trade deadline nears, there are compelling arguments for New Orleans to either stand pat or make a major move.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have played 12 games together this year. One could argue all the team needs to do is get healthy.

Alternatively, there is an argument to be made that the team’s recent slide has revealed flaws, and that now is the time for the asset-rich Pelicans to be aggressive.

If the Pelicans want to make a splash, one player makes the most sense to target: OG Anunoby.

The Toronto Raptors’ wing is arguably the NBA’s best perimeter defender. Anunoby leads the league in steals per game (2.1) and deflections (3.9). The 25-year-old Anunoby is 6-foot-8 with a 7-2 wingspan. He has similar physical dimensions to Herb Jones, the Pelicans’ ace perimeter defender, but is about 25 pounds heavier. He is as disruptive as Jones but more difficult to knock off his spot.

Anunoby’s defensive versatility and ability to hit down catch-and-shoot 3s at a reliable rate (39.2% on 4.5 attempts per game this season) makes him a fit on any NBA team. The Pelicans are no exception. With Anunoby in tow, the Pelicans could roll out a starting five of CJ McCollum, Anunoby, Ingram, Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas when healthy. If either Ingram or Williamson is unavailable — unfortunately, that has been the norm in New Orleans — Anunoby could easily slide in at either forward spot.

Pelicans coach Willie Green has shown how much he values defensive versatility this season. Backup big man Larry Nance Jr. has been the team’s most-used center in fourth quarters. Thursday, Nance played all 12 minutes of the final quarter in the loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Valanciunas did not log a second.

It was the latest example of how much Green prioritizes being able to play a switching defense in crunch time. Anunoby is an ideal fit in this sort of scheme. He can guard across the positional spectrum — 1 through 4 and even smaller 5s.

Anunoby is making $17.4 million this season and is owed $18.6 million next season. He has a $19.9 million player option in 2024-25 that he seems destined to decline. His skillset, age and relatively cheap contract will make him one of the most coveted players ahead of next week’s deadline. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the Pelicans, Pacers, Suns and Knicks are teams to watch in the pursuit of him. The Grizzlies have also been linked as a potential suitor.

Multiple league insiders told The Times-Picayune that the Raptors’ preference is to get back young players in any deal for Anunoby as opposed to picks. The Pelicans are armed with both of those things. Dyson Daniels, Jones and Naji Marshall are all homegrown talent on team-friendly deals. Plus, the Pelicans own the rights to all of their own first-round picks in the next five years in addition to the 2024 Los Angeles Lakers first that can be deferred until 2025 and a 2027 Milwaukee Bucks first. 

One other thing to consider if a deal for Anunoby materializes: luxury tax implications. The Pelicans are projected to owe more than $103 million to the McCollum-Ingram-Williamson trio next season. Acquiring Anunoby would likely mean having to offload a key piece outside of that core. The Pelicans are one of two NBA franchises to have never paid the luxury tax, and it would be a surprise if they were a tax-paying team next season.

As next week’s trade deadline approaches, the NBA appears to have many more buyers than sellers. The team that trades for Anunoby — if he’s moved at all — could have to pay a significant cost. The Pelicans have many desirable assets. What they are willing to part with remains to be seen.