How the Pelicans Could Trade Ryan Anderson
TRADE #3: Get Rich or Die Ryan
Jan 28, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Pelicans Receive: Wilson Chandler
Kings Receive: Ryan Anderson, Ty Lawson
Nuggets Receive: Kings 6th overall 2015 draft pick, 2017 future first rounder, Nik Stauskas, Jason Thompson, Derrick Williams
Why the Pelicans do it:
Wilson Chandler would serve basically the same purpose as Tobias Harris. He’s a worse rebounder, a better defender, and a 6’8″ small forward who could slide to the four in small ball situations.
Chandler is older than Harris, but that also means he will also be cheaper. He costs the same amount as Ryan Anderson, so basically the Pelicans would just be trading a luxury four, for a necessity three.
Why the Nuggets do it:
This Nuggets core isn’t winning a championship. They have a lot of average level starting players, but no real franchise superstar, and their current core isn’t getting any younger.
Jusuf Nurkic looked fantastic this season in his rookie year, so the Nuggets should consider rebuilding around him by collecting other young players with potential. The best way to do this is to secure a valuable draft pick, which the Nuggets are guaranteed in this trade.
With the 6th pick in the draft they would be guaranteed one of either Karl Anthony-Towns, Jahlil Okafor, Emanual Mudiay, D’angelo Russell, Willie Cauley Stein or Kristaps Porzingis who all have superstar potential.
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They would need to take on some of the Kings useless contracts to match salaries, but none of them would cripple their long-term flexibility.
Ty Lawson is solid, but he’s just an average point guard in a league over saturated at that position. The Nuggets could make this trade, and begin next season with a core of young studs including Nik Stauskas, Nurkic, whoever they select in the draft, and an additional first rounder in 2017.
This Nuggets core is going nowhere fast, but a new young athletic core would be going everywhere fast. Literally.
Why the Kings do it:
Demarcus Cousins is getting impatient. If he demands a trade 1-2 years from now I doubt people will be very surprised. Unlike the Nuggets, the Kings need to win now and this move would give them a dangerous offensive starting lineup that would fit perfectly under Head Coach George Karl.
Apr 12, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) drives to the net against Sacramento Kings forward Derrick Williams (13) and guard Ray McCallum (3) in the third quarter at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Kings 122-111. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Karl coached Lawson in Denver and reports have surfaced he wants to bring him down to Sacramento to join his new team. Lawson isn’t an elite PG, but he plays at an elite speed. Karl could put him in a perfect position excel with a generous amount of spacing and a perfect pick-and-roll partner in Demarcus Cousins.
A starting lineup of Lawson-Mclemore-Gay-Anderson-Cousins would be able to play 4 out 1 in, and be young enough to grow for at least 3-4 years together.
Odds are the Pelicans decide to play it cool this summer, but Dell Demps is a magician of a General Manager and no one can know truly know his master plan.
Should they decide to do so, the Pelicans could potentially shake up the league and revamp their roster…….