New Orleans Pelicans: 3 trade targets to bolster the second unit

The New Orleans Pelicans have the worst scoring bench in the entire association, and they must look to bolster it before the NBA trade deadline.

After they just missed out on the postseason last year, many envisioned that the New Orleans Pelicans would be poised to take a leap this season. However, they have struggled mightily to this point, managing to piece together a lackluster 4-6 record.

Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, their star-studded youth tandem, are surely not to blame for that, as they have been fantastic in the early going. This duo is approximately averaging a combined 46 points per game, but the help around them is lacking. While there are several issues the Pelicans need to address as they sit at 13th in the Western Conference, one of the most apparent is the need for firepower off the bench.

The Pelicans’ second unit ranks dead last in scoring, coming in at an abysmal 26.9 points per game. New Orleans has just one reserve averaging double-digit scoring, which has hindered their success significantly as the losses continue piling up. Their depth is minimal, and if the Pelicans plan on fighting for a spot in the postseason, these bench issues are something that they need to address sooner rather than later.

Luckily for them, they have a bountiful amount of draft capital over the next half-decade, along with several talented players that could be enticing in any trade talks. The trade deadline is still several months away, but here are three trade targets that the New Orleans Pelicans should have in mind to shore up their second unit.