The New Orleans Pelicans want a player who can make an immediate impact as part of any trade package for Anthony Davis, and there is apparently at least one All-Star that they have their eye on.
Earlier in the week, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin is exploring multi-team trade scenarios aimed at landing New Orleans a combination of high draft picks and at least one All-Star caliber player. According to Fletcher Mackel of WDSU NBC New Orleans, the Pelicans would love to find a way to land Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal.
NBA source tells me the “All-Star player” being referenced when talking about Anthony Davis/Lakers scenarios and using the #4 pick to get NOLA a veteran is Bradley Beal.
Pelicans want him in 3-team deal with LA.@FearTheBrown was first to report Beal as Pels target.@wdsu pic.twitter.com/mFZRQPsrXe— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) June 13, 2019
Beal has said he wants to finish his career in Washington, but a report early last season indicated they were willing to part ways with him. The 25-year-old averaged career highs across the board this year with 25.6 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game, so you can understand why the Pelicans would have interest in pairing him with Zion Williamson.
The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers both want to trade for Davis, and they have the No. 3 and No. 4 picks, respectively, in the upcoming draft. New Orleans is reportedly not that interested in the Knicks’ young players, and they may view the Lakers the same way. That is where a third team would come in, but landing a top-four pick and a player like Beal would obviously be a dream scenario for New Orleans.
