The New Orleans Pelicans are keeping busy this trade season. Early reports on Monday indicated that the team was in advanced discussions with the 76ers to trade for Jahlil Okafor.
That has not happened yet and there may be a holdup before any trade of that magnitude occurs. It doesn’t mean that the Pelicans will be sitting on their hands, however.
According to another report, New Orleans has had internal discussions about trading for Detroit Pistons’ point guard Reggie Jackson:
League source said Pelicans, while weighing numerous options, had internally mulled offering a trade package for Reggie Jackson.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) February 6, 2017
The Pelicans already have a great point guard, but Jrue Holiday is a free agent in the summer. If the team has some indication that he is not a lock to re-sign in July (or that he may be too expensive to re-sign), getting a guard who is locked into a contract for the next three years makes sense, even if he is a downgrade from Holiday.
That would also allow the Pelicans to move Holiday for players or picks now instead of losing him for nothing. He could be a big piece in the Okafor trade, should it happen, although the Pelicans should hope for more of a return.
Nothing is set in stone and it doesn’t appear as though the Pelicans have even contacted Detroit about this idea. But it’s something to keep an eye on.
