How the Pelicans Could Trade Ryan Anderson
TRADE #2: The Dump
Oct 20, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) dribbles the ball as Washington Wizards guard Xavier Silas (5) and forward Drew Gooden (90) look on during the first half at Baltimore Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Pelicans Receive: Absolutely nothing
Wizards Receive: Ryan Anderson
76ers Receive: Eric Gordon, Martell Webster, DeJuan Blair, Wizard’s 2015 19th draft pick
Why the Pelicans do it:
Bare with me Pelicans fans. I know at first this deal sounds sketchy. The Sixers get a valuable first rounder, the Wizards get a perfect stretch-four to pair with John Wall, and the Pelicans get nothing. Except we don’t get nothing, we get 20+ million dollars of immediate cap space.
Basically this trade means we get to drop Eric Gordon’s 15 million dollar contract for the price of one Ryan Anderson. Having that kind of spending money this offseason would be huge, we could sign multiple big names and get them under contract before the 2016 cap jump.
Those names include Deandre Jordan, Tobias Harris, Marc Gasol, DeMarre Carroll, Greg Monroe, Khris Middleton, Jeff Green and Tyson Chandler.
Mar 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) fouls New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) on a third quarter play at Staples Center. The Clippers went on to a 107-100 win. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Assuming we make the trade, and decline Omer Asik‘s option as well, we could be left with upwards of 30 million dollars in cap room. We could sign Deandre Jordan for his max 18.8 million dollar contract, and offer Jeff Green a 40/4 and still have room to breathe.
Making this trade could hypothetically give us a starting lineup of Jrue-Tyreke-Green-Davis-Jordan or really any variation which includes this years free agents you like the best.
Why the Wizards do it:
Nene and Marcin Gortat can’t play together. Today’s league requires spacing the Wizards need to adapt. They only achieved a real rhythm once they put Paul Pierce at the four in the playoffs, but multiple reports suggest he will opt out and sign with a contender.
Ryan Anderson wouldn’t even be a replacement, he would be an improvement. Using Gortat in the pick and roll with John Wall, and having Anderson, Bradley Beal, and Otto Porter out on the wings would be a huge step in the right direction for their roster.
Their 19th overall pick is valuable, but they are trying to win now and they aren’t drafting anyone immediately better than Ryan Anderson. It makes sense for them to chase after legitimate low-risk talent.
Why the 76ers do it:
With the recent Joel Embiid news the 76ers will most likely be tanking yet another year. They have copious amounts of cap space, and aren’t interested in tying it all up in long-term deals this offseason.
They are however very interested in hoarding draft picks. Their GM Sam Hinkie is more than willing to temporarily handle large expiring contracts if it means he gets an asset back. He would have the option to either add another young project to his roster, or couple this pick along with another asset and try to move up in the draft.
Gordon, Webster, and Blair will cost slightly above 20 million dollars next season, but none of them are guaranteed anything past next summer, so the 76ers wouldn’t be sacrificing any long-term flexibility.
The Wizards get a key piece, the Sixers get a draft pick, and the Pelicans get their freedom.
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