A 4-for-2 Trade Is Completed! What Exactly Are the Pelicans Thinking?

According to renowned reporter Shams, the Pelicans and Grizzlies have completed a 4-for-2 trade. The details are as follows:

— The Pelicans send out Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, one future second-round pick, and one future second-round pick swap.

— The Grizzlies send AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson.

First of all, this trade does not come as a surprise.

Previous reports said the Pelicans signed Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year, $16 million deal. This move would push New Orleans' total salary above the luxury tax line, so they had to create room through a trade in order to complete the signing at a lower salary level.

As a result, Jordan Hawkins (approximately $7 million in annual salary) became the 'sacrifice.' After sending him and Micah Peavy (approximately $2.1 million in annual salary) away, the Pelicans saved $5.7 million in salary space, clearing the way to sign Mathurin.

Therefore, this was a trade driven by salary pressure, but the Pelicans' moves before and after it have still drawn some controversy.

Starting with Jordan Hawkins, he was the No. 14 overall pick in the 2023 draft, selected ahead of players such as Keyonte George (No. 16), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (No. 18), and Brandin Podziemski (No. 19).

However, Hawkins' development has not reached expectations.

In his third season last year, he averaged only 13.6 minutes per game, producing 5.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, with a shooting percentage of just 36.6%. By the middle and later parts of the season, he had already fallen out of the rotation.

Against that background, the Pelicans had exercised the team option on the final year of Hawkins' contract, only to turn around and attach a second-round pick and a second-round pick swap to send him away.

Now look at what the Pelicans received after adding a second-round pick and a second-round pick swap:

— AJ Johnson, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 draft, had already been passed on by the Bucks, Wizards, and Mavericks. Last season he averaged only 9.5 minutes per game, 3.3 points, shot 32.4% from the field, and 21.1% from three-point range.

— Taj Gibson, a 41-year-old veteran, played only 10 games last season, averaging fewer than 10 minutes per game with 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds. He has very little left physically, though he still has some locker-room value. However, the Pelicans already have DeAndre Jordan in their locker room, so Gibson does not appear to provide much additional value.

Put harshly, these two players are not as valuable as Hawkins. The only explanation is that the Pelicans wanted Mathurin so badly that they were forced into a trade where they gave up draft assets, moved Hawkins, and took on AJ Johnson and Gibson.

That raises the question: was signing Mathurin definitely the right decision for the Pelicans?

From a salary perspective, it is certainly worthwhile. Mathurin is only 24 years old, and last season he averaged career highs of 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.

In some stronger free-agency markets, a player like Mathurin might have received a contract averaging more than $15 million per year. Unfortunately, this year's market was very poor, so it took him a long time to secure a deal.

However, Mathurin's fit with the Pelicans is not ideal. New Orleans is a team that already has no shortage of ball handlers, including Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, Zion Williamson, and Fears. Center Queen can also handle the ball. Adding Mathurin means there are even fewer possessions to distribute.

Looking at the Pelicans' overall offseason moves:

Besides signing Mathurin and making the trade with Memphis, their biggest move was surprisingly re-signing DeAndre Jordan. The core group of a team that won only 26 games last season has remained almost completely unchanged.

The Lakers' offseason moves have also received criticism from many fans, but at least their direction is visible. With the Pelicans, however, it is difficult to understand what they are trying to do.

This trade itself shows that the Pelicans' signing of Mathurin and decision to move Hawkins came very suddenly, without much consideration for fit or long-term planning.

The Pelicans actually have many quality assets, including Murphy, Jones, and a healthy Zion Williamson. But the team's front office remains a mystery; there is a reason for their struggles.

This is only a personal opinion, but the Pelicans could make a major move before next season's trade deadline, such as trading Murphy or Zion. This team needs change, and we will wait and see what happens.