10 bold predictions for 2019 NBA free agency

5. The New Orleans Pelicans will make a surprise move

Between winning the Zion Williamson Sweepstakes, making the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade and all the speculation about what the New Orleans Pelicans would do with their newly acquired No. 4 pick in the draft, it was easy to overlook how executive vice president David Griffin got Solomon Hill‘s $12.8 million salary off the books too.

With Zion, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and a protected 2020 first round pick all inbound, Griffin might as well be rolling around in a mountain of assets, Scrooge McDuck-style. However, that draft-day trade of the No. 4 pick will also give the Pels around $30 million in cap space this summer, and this team still has needs — shooting, more wings and a starting-caliber center.

https://twitter.com/nbrownadvocate/status/1143945881051369472

How Griffin chooses to use that money remains to be seen. A young team like this probably won’t attract star free agents this summer, even with NOLA possessing max space and a lightning rod like Zion. Still, don’t count the Pelicans out just yet. They have the means to make some quality moves that will either round out the roster with depth, or seriously shock the world with a high-profile addition.

If we hadn’t already predicted Al Horford to the Mavs, we’d be saying Al Horford. Tobias Harris could be another option, but but we’re saving him for another bold prediction coming up.