Although a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans sounds like a win for the Golden State Warriors, it could end up costing them more money for marginal gain.
The Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans may figure out a deal involving Kelly Oubre Jr., but the Dubs cap situation may be one that’s not easy to navigate given how deep they are in the luxury tax.
There could be one way around it though.
The supposed deal was Oubre Jr., who has struggled far more than the Warriors would’ve hoped for, for JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball. While that’s far from finalized and the true details weren’t reported, those are the two that the Pelicans may be looking to trade.
While Redick has been having a down year in both productivity and efficiency, the Pelicans may only be looking to rid themselves of Ball because of the come up of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the presence of Eric Bledsoe.
It makes sense for both sides as Golden State with Curry’s polarizing play could lead to Ball being more useful. Ball’s vision is one of the things that has always stood out about him, and his much-improved shooting helps the cause as well.
Redick would add a lethal bench threat, but it feels unlikely that they’d be able to play Curry and Redick much together due to the defensive liability they’ve add. However, if both are included, the Warriors may not have the cap space to do the trade.
Ball and a player like Josh Hart for Oubre Jr. and several second-round picks sound ideal for both sides as Hart could add value to a deal and be under the $9.3 million disabled player exception the Warriors were granted from Thomspon’s injury.
Hart is also on the last year of his contract, so the Warriors wouldn’t be adding another long-term contract. That’s the deal that Golden State should chase as both Redick and Ball are set to make over $10 million, a brutal price that the Warriors would have to pay.
A solid three-point shooter with high upside, Hart may not be a Pelican anyway after this offseason unless they’re willing to pay him. The Warriors wouldn’t pay him either, but at least they could have him help them make a strong playoff push.
At the end of the day, Redick and Ball seem like an unlikely combination for the Warriors, but by adding Hart instead of Redick, the Warriors can use their DPE, add defensive help and sell off some draft picks they may not really need.
That’s the win-win deal Golden State should pursue.