NBA Trade Rumors: 3 players that could leave the Pelicans ahead of the deadline
Teams around the NBA are free to make trades until the 7th of February, as the trade window will then close ahead of this year's All-Star Event in North Carolina. This will represent the second consecutive season in which the trade deadline has preceded the NBA's All-Star weekend, and the league is likely to see a number of notable trades over the next five days.
The trade market has already heated up thanks to the monumental trade involving the Knicks and Mavericks that resulted in Kristaps Porzingis leaving New York, and a number of other teams will be looking to get in on the action over the coming days, including the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pelicans have suffered another disappointing season and with the team well under .500 for the season, the organization may be looking to move a number of players ahead of the deadline. So with departures looking likely, here are three members of the Pelicans roster that could find themselves on a new team next week.
#3 Nikola Mirotic
Despite a number of injury setbacks, Nikola Mirotic has been a regular starter for the Pelicans this season, and the power forward is currently averaging 16.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old has struggled to match the production that DeMarcus Cousins offered to the Pelicans last season, and the team has struggled to win with the big man pairing of Mirotic and Anthony Davis.
Due to this, the Pelicans will reportedly accept draft picks in return for Mirotic, and teams around the NBA are likely to be interested in adding a versatile big man who is shooting 37% from beyond the arc. Mirotic also becomes a free agent in the summer, so if the former Chicago man has no intention of resigning, it makes sense for the Pelicans to trade him away now.