Just a few hours before the NBA trade deadline, the New Orleans Pelicans acquired 22-year-old forward Jarnell Stokes from the Miami Heat in exchange for a protected pick.
The Miami Heat dealt Stokes as a means to get within $2.6 million of being under the luxury tax, after dealing center Chris Andersen earlier in the week for the same reasons.
New Orleans acquired a promising young player in Stokes, who has struggled to find playing time since being the 35th selection in last year’s NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. For most of this season, Stokes has been in the D-League, where he made the D-League All-Star game as a representative of the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
In 16 games in the D-League this year, Stokes is putting up 20.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 67.3 percent shooting.
While this is a limited sample size, there is reason to believe that Stokes could develop into at least a solid role player for the Pelicans.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
Since the Pelicans have been so bad this season, there will be no pressure for Stokes to win or make huge contributions.
Stokes adds depth at the power forward position as insurance if Anthony Davis goes down with an injury. His contract also expires after the completion of this season, so the Pelicans are not risking much by having him on their roster.
This move also may be a sign of more things to come since Ryan Anderson’s name has popped up in a lot of trade rumors. Anderson is the Pelicans’ best scorer and player off the bench, so the remaining players on the roster will have big shoes to fill if he is dealt.
Coming out of Tennessee, Stokes was an undersized center who struggled to finish at a high rate with his back to the basket. However, he was a player that improved each year he was in school, and is still young enough to develop even further.
Stokes’ biggest strength is his ability to rebound, which is sorely needed in New Orleans, where the Pelicans rank 23rd in the league. In the D-League this year, Stokes was grabbing 4.3 offensive rebounds per game, a category where the Pelicans also rank 23rd.
Related Story: 2016 NBA Trade Deadline Live Tracker
At best, the Pelicans got a young big man who will develop into a solid role player who can make a positive impact. At worst, Stokes’ contract expires at the end of the season, and the Pelicans will be right where they were before the trade.