The New Orleans Pelicans made things happen last season. After struggling to start off the season, they battled all the way back, eventually winning both play-in games.
Not only did they earn the eighth seed in the playoffs, but they put up a valiant effort against the first-seeded Phoenix Suns. Their young players and veterans put on a real show.
They made a real splash at the trade deadline, adding shooting guard CJ McCollum to the squad, and the addition really helped shape the rest of the season for them.
NBA Trades: 3-teamer would land Buddy Hield on New Orleans Pelicans
He helped mentor the younger players on the team, who also added a ton of value during the postseason. Guys like Jose Alvarado, Trey Murphy, and Herbert Jones all played huge roles for the Pelicans in the playoffs.
New Orleans showed just enough last season to the point where there are going to be some expectations for them heading into next year. They’ll be expected to not only make the playoffs, but advance.
With Zion Williamson set to make his return, the Pelicans should be able to make some noise, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some holes on their roster that need to be filled.
One area of need for New Orleans is three-point shooting. They were the fourth-worst three-point shooting team in the NBA last year, so adding some shooting would be ideal.
Since free agency has dried up, for the most part, attacking the trade market should be a good idea for the Pelicans, and this three-team trade would help them do just that.