The New Orleans Pelicans don’t have much to be excited about this season, but they could complete a stress-relieving trade.
The organization could finally move forward by swapping a frequently-injured forward for an established Portland Trail Blazers wing.
“With the impending fire sale, the New Orleans Pelicans can send Zion Williamson for good value to the Portland Trail Blazers,” Fadeaway World’s Cholo Martin Magsino wrote Monday.
“Getting Jerami Grant is good because he is a reliable veteran who is much better than his averages of 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.”
“The big fish in this trade for New Orleans is Shaedon Sharpe, an ultra-athletic guard averaging 17.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists this season. He has boundless potential, so the Blazers might refuse this trade.”
“Getting Zion Williamson could be the key to Portland’s long-term success. He has career averages of 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, giving the Blazers the franchise cornerstone they have wanted since the Damian Lillard trade.”
Injuries continue to plague Williamson in New Orleans, making it necessary for the franchise to move on from the Duke product.
Grant, an alluring 6-foot-7 wing who isn’t a weak link on either end of the floor, hasn’t wowed spectators with his play this season, averaging 15 points per game on 37.7% field goal shooting and 36.9% three-point shooting.
Still, the Syracuse product’s ability to participate in over 20% of the Trail Blazers’ regular season contests would make him an instant upgrade over Williamson.
Williamson is a freak of nature when he isn’t watching games from the sidelines, but truthfully, it’s time for the Pelicans to consider going in a different direction.
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