Pelicans Trade Targets and Free Agents

Garrison Giddens • May 5, 2026

All the players I'd be gunning for if I was the Pels Head of Basketball Operations.

In making this list of desirable targets for the Pelicans this summer, I probably had a list of 30+ players that I’d target if I were them, and, lucky for you, I whittled it down to ten!

The Pelicans have work to do this summer, no matter the approach, and of course, that starts with finding a head coach… which I wrote about here.

Even more important in finding the right head coach is strengthening this roster and building it towards the Dumars full-throttle approach to winning now.1

Since that’s the case, I figured I’d use my big, beautiful basketball brain to tell you who they should be on the hunt for… so without further ado, let’s get into it!

Trade Targets

Scotty Pippen Jr

I know most Pelicans fans are clamoring for a Ja Morant trade this offseason, but I see your Grizzlies guard, and I raise you a different one.

Undersized defensive guards are an archetype that NBA fans are waking back up — even though they should have never been asleep in the first place.

Andrew Nembhard, Jahmal Shead, Miles McBride, and Davoin Mitchell are all players who fall under the category of already quality fringe starters, who rise significantly in the playoffs.

Scotty Pippen is an established member of the club, and his defensive film is unbelievably heady. In an old-school fashion, Pippen seems to be around the ball constantly, repeatedly disrupting offenses because his head is on a swivel and his motor is unmatched.

All the film shows is that Pippen Jr. is a pure pest, and his defensive feel is through the roof. And the metrics concur.

Pippen Jr. logged only one full NBA season in 2024-25, but in that one, he was a 98th percentile player in defensive turnover impact. Per 100 possessions that year, Pippen was averaging six deflections(97th percentile), almost four forced turnovers (96th percentile), one offensive foul drawn (91st percentile), and a 4.5 stop percentage (98th percentile).

Pippen Jr. fits the current NBA trend as a backcourt defender, similar to successful guards in OKC, Portland, and Phoenix.

Not only can Pippen jr provide the vigor the Pelicans need consistently, but guard depth is also something they lack. A well-equipped playmaker, high-tempo capable guard, who provides the option to play multiple ball-handlers on the floor at the same time, is also a luxury the Pels didn’t have this past season.

Though his volume is low, Pippen Jr. is a reliable shooter, hitting 43% catch-and-shoot threes and nearly 40% overall from three.

I haven’t even gotten to the best part, he’s on a $2.5 million contract next year with a 2.7 million team option for 27-28 — that might make him less of a trade bargain… but value like that is something you cannot pass up.

While it’s hard to say exactly how a deal would come together, I doubt a package of just second-round picks would be enough—perhaps including Jordan Hawkins and a second would work, which feels like an absolute steal.

In any case, if Dumars wants the 2026-27 Pelicans to be tough and relentless, Scotty Pippen Jr. is the vision.

Paul Reed

In a crowded frontcourt of Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart in the second-string spot, Paul Reed is one of the most underrated and, honestly, underused assets in the NBA.

Despite the Pelicans’ crowded frontcourt, Reed’s production could prove vital next season.

Reed is a player who inexplicably convinces you that his team is astronomically better with him on the floor.

My favorite aspect of his game: His defensive versatility in pick-and-roll coverages. Often, in the NBA, you see bigs who are only capable of playing one or two looks — Paul can excel in drop, hedge, switch, and blitz ball handlers too.

It’s his ability to play out at the level, his versatility, and his ability to impact the game at the rim and out in space as a defender that is special. Coaches aren’t pigeonholed into playing defense one specific way with Reed out there.

Reed ranked in the 96th percentile in screener mobile defense and 90th in screener rim defense, so the notion that he’s a multi-faceted defender is certainly backed. Even with Detroit’s dynamite defense, the Pistons on that end are 4.3 points better in rating with Reed on the floor, and their opponents’ shot quality takes a hit.

Yes, the Pel’s depth chart is slightly jammed in the frontcourt, featuring an eclectic collection of bigs. However, having depth and a player like Reed who can toggle between the 4 and the 5, giving you more modern double big looks, is a major asset — especially with the regular season.

He’d easily earn a spot in the top eight of the rotation and would be a quality pairing next to Derik Queen, allowing Queen to play the 4 while Paul covers some of his defensive shortcomings.

He can stretch the floor offensively, too; it isn’t because Reed is a classic-stretch big, but he is easily playable from 18+ feet out and has an understated short roll game.

Not only that, he bolsters second-chance opportunities. I knew he was a good offensive rebounder, but he’s actually in the 100th percentile per 100 possessions.

Though Paul Reed wasn’t acquired by the Pistons under Troy Weaver, Weaver should now make him a Pelican. Reed’s $5.6 million contract and underutilized role make him an ideal hidden gem for the summer.

Derrick White

When the court of basketball opinion on someone is low, that is the exact moment when a front office should get savvy and buy the dip.

After the Celtics blew a 3-1 lead to Philly, and Derrick White shot it so poorly he couldn’t throw it in the ocean, HE is at the dip.

I’m fully aware that Derrick White is almost 32, and his contract is only increasing all the way through the 2028-29 season — and also, this front office getting on the phone to strike deals with Brad Stevens is like a cocky-frat guy thinking he could take a UFC fighter.

Yet, I’m fully drawn in — because if Dumars’ goal is to compete now and win basketball games… White is your guy.

There isn’t a single impact metric that Derrick White doesn’t shine in, he’s an analytics darling, and that may not move your needle — but there’s a reason why the spreadsheet wizards favor him.

Even during shooting slumps, White’s presence maintains Boston’s offensive potency.

His constant, high-level movement off-ball, proficient playmaking, and yes, floor-stretching ability (even if shots aren’t falling) make for an elite tertiary offensive player.

Players who leverage and harness space are desperately needed for the Pelicans, and White is one of the NBA’s best in that regard.

On the other end of the floor, though, White isn’t the atypical lockdown point of attack defender, as he is on offense. Defensively, the small plays add up to a substantial footprint.

Calling it substantial is honestly a short-sell. White’s influence on opponents’ true shooting % was the best in the NBA this season. And he just so happens to be the best shot-blocking guard in the NBA, so it isn’t all little things.

I don’t know if Boston is willing to deal him, but the phone will be ringing for Derrick White, and if I were calling the shots on Airline Highway — I’d be throwing this offer.

Free Agents

Navigating trades with this Pelicans roster is tough, since many expendable players lack value. For a team focused on winning, free agency is an excellent path to find the right contributors.

Tari Eason

Speaking of drawn-out shooting slumps, Tari Eason’s contract expires this summer, and it is almost a sure-fire thing that the Rockets can’t afford to pay him.

While Eason may not solve the Pelicans’ floor-spacing needs, his presence would shift the team’s identity toward defense.

Eason is one of the most flexible defenders in the league, able to guard 1-5 at the highest level while forcing turnovers at an extremely high clip.

I could rave about Eason’s defense and how his offense could easily be above average if he were in a different system than Houston. Still, more importantly, he addresses the issue that every single Pelican spoke about in the season-ending presser.

Defensive rebounding.

A major statistical eye-sore for the Pelicans this past season was getting killed by opponents on the offensive glass; that hole in the defensive wall can be taken care of just fine by slapping a Tari Eason poster right over it.

The Rockets had a 25.2 opponent offensive rebound percentage with Eason on the floor this season, which would be good for 8th in the NBA— without him, it drops to 29.1%, which would be even worse than the Pels, who were bottom 3 in the NBA in that category.

Eason’s 7'2 wingspan is on display when he’s snatching rebounds over centers, and getting tips on loose balls that few players can get to.

If Houston can’t pay Eason, expect significant interest around the league. His likely contract, a four-year deal in the $18-25 million range, is only feasible for New Orleans if they move off Jordan Poole, decline my guy Kevon Looney’s team option, and negotiate a reasonable extension for Saddiq Bey. (All tall tasks)

If it’s on the table, paying Tari Eason will be pleasant news this summer, and the Pels will undoubtedly be a better basketball team with him.

Mitchell Robinson

The absolute #1 player on my list for the Pelicans to go after this season is the Big Apple’s Round Mound of Rebound — Mitchell Robinson.

Robinson will be a free agent this summer, but in all honesty, I virtually see no way the Knicks let him walk just because of the impact he provides; nevertheless, New York is deep into the first apron and right above the second… meaning their options are limited.

Robinson is the best offensive rebounder in basketball, and the Knicks as a team get almost 10% better in O-REB percentage when Robinson is on the floor, totaling to 36.7%… which would clear the Rockets by 2%, who lead the regular season by a landslide in this figure.

Configuring lineups to maximize possessions and increase true shot attempts is one of the most prominent trends in the NBA over the past few seasons, and having Big Mitch on your team practically cements your place in the upper echelon in that regard.

Unlike with Paul Reed, Robinson’s place in the Pelicans frontcourt hierarchy isn’t as unknown — he’s a starting center on almost any team in the NBA, and is worth every single penny of the big contract he’ll sign this summer, which I anticipate being in the 20-25 million range.

Money needs to be moved around for the Pelicans to make my hoop-wishes come true, but there’s no question it would be worth it for Pels’ brass to bring Mitchell Robinson, the Louisiana native, home.

Robinson, the Louisiana Native — Joe Dumars brings this man home.


There are so many players I’d love to see the Pels gun for this summer in free agency, so I’ll do some quick hitters before your lunch break ends.

Collin Gillespie — Absolute motor maniac who has some of the best range in the NBA, especially for a role player. Gillespie has a flame thrower with one of the highest 3-point rates in the league on absurd efficiency and has improved drastically this past season. The Suns will no doubt retain him on a relatively team-friendly deal. But Gillespie, bringing guard depth as a quality sixth man or in an on-and-off starting role for the Pelicans, would be a top-notch signing.

Day’Ron Sharpe — Sharpe continues to be one of the best litmus tests for the NBA-obsessed high ball-knowledge community. Sharpe has a $6 million team option this summer, which the Nets will surely pick up, despite being slightly above ground zero in the rebuild. He’s an excellent defensive anchor and should be a playoff-builder as we speak. I put him side by side with Ayo Dosunmu as far as easy buy-lows this past trade deadline. Sharpe is a high-feel player who makes plays on both ends of the floor, and the Pelicans would be lucky to have him at around the mid-level exception price of $14 million or less.

Garrison Matthews — Sick name, even sicker of a shooter. Remember Matt Ryan (not the one New Orleans sports fans hate), the sharpshooter from the 49 win team in 23-24’? Matthews is that, but better; he’s a budget Isaiah Joe and an easy pickup for the Pelicans this summer. He’s 10x the shooter Jordan Hawkins is, and even cheaper.

Dean Wade- One of the most beloved teammates in Cleveland, Wade is on an expiring $6.6 million contract and provides the Pelicans with the outside shooting that was absent all season. Wade sports the 4 spot in the lineup, a dense position for New Orleans with Zion and Queen, but has the capability at the 5 and is an overlooked defender by many. Playoff experienced, high-feel, lights-out 3 point shooter who isn’t a defensive liability — sounds like an A+ signing for the Pels.

Matisse Thybulle — A grounded veteran who played solid minutes for the Blazers in round one against the Spurs, Thybulle is an average shooter who still has some elite juice defending at the point of attack. A price of $6-8 million for Thybulle would be a reasonable deal and a nice addition as a vet on an incredibly young Pels team.


The list was long, it remained that way, though I tried to shorten it — all because I had an abundance of basketball ideas for the Pelicans.

Maybe you didn’t like my trade targets or free-agent targets. The beauty in that is you can be wrong let me know why you disagree, and give me the guys you’d go after this summer if you were Joe Dumars!


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Tulane Green Wave @ Kansas State Wildcats Game Preview

By Patrick Harkness • September 17, 2026
Saturday, September 19, 2026 11:00 a.m. CT Bill Snyder Family Stadium ESPN2 Last time the Wave walked into Manhattan they left with a 17-10 win in 2022. K-State got the 34-27 answer in New Orleans in 2024. This one closes the three-game series. Tulane is 1-1 after the Duke punch and a 28-24 home comeback vs South Alabama. Kansas State is 2-0, has not allowed an offensive touchdown, and is a 20.5-point favorite. Can the Green Wave steal one in Manhattan again? Roll Dat Wave Pod w/ @greenwavecolin drops today! Sponsor: @RedshirtLtd http:// Redshirtltd.com CODE: RDW = 10% Off The Best Tulane Lids Around! Tulane Green Wave: Year 1 of the Will Hall era. Ugly 17-3 opener at Duke. Then a messy, necessary 28-24 win at Yulman when Jaylin Lucas ran for 214 and Kadin Semonza hit Destyn Hill from 14 yards with 1:17 left. Semonza is the starter. 25-of-43, 352 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT through two games. Roster reality heading to Manhattan: The Wave still cannot stay on the field. Duke held the ball 36:35 . South Alabama held it 37:40 and went 10-of-16 on third down. Tulane is 13 first downs in a “win.” That will not travel against a better defense. What remains is still Wave culture: Lucas just set an American Conference yards-per-carry record (19.5) on 11 carries. Hill has 9-158-1. Anthony Brown-Stephens and Zycarl Lewis Jr are the next layer that need to start producing. Semonza and Hill need some help. Maybe the TE’s will finally get involved. Johnnie Daniels punched in two short TDs vs USA. Jamauri McClure (foot, I fear this is way more serious then they are letting on) has not played in either game. If he is not ready, Lucas / Turner / Daniels have to carry a road Power-4 defense that has allowed 144 yards per game. Kansas State Wildcats: Year 1 of Collin Klein. He was the OC in that 2022 home loss to Tulane. Asked this week if that still burns: “No doubt.” They are 2-0 after 71-3 vs Nicholls and 34-7 vs Washington State. 105-10 combined. Defense has not allowed an offensive touchdown. Ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense (144.0), No. 1 in passing yards allowed (47.5), No. 3 in scoring defense (5.0). Three penalties for 35 yards in two games. Fewest in the country. (Tulane First Test) Offense is physical and complementary: 52.5 points, 523 yards, 7.2 yards per carry, 19-of-27 on third down. K-State is healthier, cleaner, and already has the identity tape they want. Tulane has the 2022 scar on this building and a chip after having to survive South Alabama. Both teams have questions. Only one of them looks like it has answers through two weeks. Kansas State offense vs Tulane defense: Klein and Sean Gleeson want to run first, stay on schedule, and live play-action. This is not a one-read air raid. It is a physical, complementary attack that has rushed for 607 yards on 84 carries through two games. Avery Johnson is the problem. Senior dual-threat. 37-of-55, 391 yards, 6 passing TDs, 2 INTs, plus 101 rushing yards and a score. He will keep it, pull it, and throw on the move. The two picks vs Washington State were stare-downs and along the sideline 10 yds or less. Jaylen Thomas (Wash St) jumped both (1-TD). Do not expect him to gift those again, but he does get stupid with the ball sometimes so Tulane must capitalize. The run committee: Rodney Fields Jr. (Oklahoma State transfer) 206 yards, 2 TDs, including the 75-yard dagger to open the second half vs WSU. Joe Jackson still hits home runs and already has receiving TDs in both games. Jay Harris and Monterrio Elston Jr. have scored on the ground. Depth is real. Size at WR Spot: Josh Manning 6-3/220 (Missouri transfer) is the clear WR1: 13-130-2. Ten catches for 97 vs WSU. Joe Jackson and Brandon White are the YAC layer. Tulane’s 4-2-5 under Tayler Polk / Nate Fuqua just got gashed for 227 rushing yards by Nate Sheppard at Duke, then survived South Alabama’s 182-yard, 37-minute possession game. Third-down defense is the wound. 10-of-16 allowed to USA. Chris Rodgers (left leg) will not play and “may” be done for the year (2nd Opnion). That is a real loss next to Dickson Agu, who just posted 14 tackles. Next Man Up: Makai Williams stepped up in his replacement, made several key stops. Safety Jack Tchienchou is still the defensive leader. Ed Smith IV, Derrick Shepard Jr., Kam Hamilton, and the young ends have to set the edge against Fields/Jackson and keep Johnson from extending. Through 2 games Tulane has 1 sack and 4 TFL, they must improve this number if they want any chance in this game. Would love to see LB Dalton Hughes rush the passer, did very well with that at USA. Kevin Adams III has 21 tackles and is 2nd on the team, Jack with 18. The secondary can hunt if it is third-and-7+. K-State is converting 70% of those. Last time in this building the Wave made K-State scoreless in the second half. That script does not exist if Fields hits the edge on first down and Johnson gets clean play-action. Look for Macho Stevenson to get a bunch of work with the height of K-State WR room. X Factor: Defense, Defense, Defense. Clean tackling, generate pressure, force mistakes that’s the only way! Kansas State defense Vs Tulane Offense: Hall and Russ Callaway will still want to run it and play-action off it. Semonza is not Retzlaff and he is not Johnson. He does not have to throw 40 times. He has to stay on schedule, hit Hill / Brown-Stephens / Lewis when K-State loads the box, and protect the football. The offensive line is the swing unit on the road. Reese Baker is the veteran. The rest of that front is still proving it. Against a Jordan Peterson front that has allowed 47.5 passing yards per game and stuffed two opponents under 200 total yards, early-down protection is everything. The line is improving and played way cleaner. If McClure is still out, Lucas is the feature. 214 yards on 11 carries vs USA is real. It is also 11 touches. He cannot be the entire plan for 60 minutes in Manhattan. Turner and Daniels have to finish drives. Tight ends Dawson Johnson, Vance Bolyard and the F package (Ty Thompson/Gabe Lovorn) have to be involved. They were afterthoughts at Duke and USA. K-State defense last two weeks: No offensive touchdowns allowed. 144 yards per game. 2-of-12 third downs vs Washington State. Gabe Powers leading the linebacker room. Wendell Gregory and Elijah Hill wrecking the edge. Secondary has not been stressed because nobody has stayed on schedule. First Test for them. Peterson is multiple. Four-man, five-man, nickel. They are assignment-sound and the least-penalized team in the country. You will not draw them offside into a free first down. If that front stays gap-sound, Semonza is in obvious passing downs by the middle of the second quarter. That is when this defense lives. If they overpursue Lucas the way USA did, the Wave can steal explosives. Hill already has a 61-yarder and the game-winner. Last year in New Orleans K-State finished 34-27. In 2022 in this building they could not score after halftime. The difference Saturday is whether Tulane can stay ahead of the chains against a front that has not blinked yet. X Factor: Explosive run game + zero turnovers. Anything less and the clock becomes K-State’s friend. Tulane Green Wave @ Kansas State Wildcats: Overall and Three keys to victory for Tulane: On paper this one should not be close. Kansas State’s favor. K-State is 2-0, healthier, cleaner, and already has the run-game and defensive tape they want. They have not allowed an offensive touchdown. They convert 70% of third downs. They have three penalties in two games. Tulane is 1-1, a 20.5-point dog, missing Chris Rodgers, and still waiting on Jamauri McClure. The Wave just needed a last-minute score to survive South Alabama at home. The only reason this is interesting is 2022. This building has seen the Wave win here. Klein has not forgotten it. Hall’s group has to play a complete, complementary, clean road game it has not played yet. Harley Day in Manhattan. 11 a.m. kick. ESPN2. Loud. Three keys for Tulane: 1. Set the edge and make Fields/Jackson earn everything. If Fields hits the 75-yard variant early, Johnson gets free play-action and the Wave defense spends the morning in the middle of the field. Set the edge, tackle in space, force K-State into third-and-7+. That is the only down this secondary can hunt. Generate pressure and force mistakes 2. Let Semonza be efficient without turning it over. He does not have to out-duel Avery Johnson. He has to stay on schedule, take what Peterson gives him, and protect the football. One or two completed drives that end in the end zone change how K-State has to play the rest of the morning. Ball security is non-negotiable on the road as a three-score dog. 3. Win early downs and stay out of obvious passing situations. The reloaded Wave offensive line does not have to dominate. It has to give Semonza a clean pocket on first and second down and create enough push for Lucas / Turner / Daniels / McClure (if healthy) to keep Peterson honest. Third-and-long against this front is where the game gets away. Stay ahead of the chains, convert a couple of third-and-mediums, and you at least give yourself a fourth-quarter chance. Bill Snyder will be loud. Kansas State will have moments. They almost never had to sweat the first two weeks, this is a plus for Tulane if they strike first. Play complementary and clean football, finish in the red zone, tackle, and make Klein remember 2022 for one more Saturday. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X

Saints All-22 Recap Week 1

By Kaden Arkeder • September 17, 2026
I watched the coaches film of the Lions game and felt some mixed emotions after going through all of the plays. First and foremost, the offensive line has to play much better than what they showed against the Lions given the investment the Saints have made through either draft capital or contractually. The right side in particular was a big reason why the offense struggled to get off to a good start against the Lions as they could neither open lanes in the running game or give Tyler Shough consistent time to throw. Cesar Ruiz was entering the year needing to have a bounce back campaign after how his 2025 season went and his performance against the Lions was not a good start to accomplishing his goal. Taliese Fuaga has been a mixed bag thus far in his young career which is not abnormal for young offensive tackles. Tali had a promising rookie season but followed it up with an up and down sophomore season where he dealt with multiple injuries over the course of the season. He is someone the Saints will have to make a decision on regarding picking up his fifth year option after the season and someone who the Saints need to play well in order to accomplish their goals this season. But I have to give the offense credit because the last 20 or so minutes of the game was fun to watch. Shough was in rhythm from then on and made big time throw after big time throw getting multiple receivers involved. Although as I was watching the game live I could not help but notice it took way too long to get Juwan Johnson on the board. Juwan has had a track record of performances like this before and you would like to see better consistent production from him rather than the all or nothing types of games he has had in the past. I will be curious to see if he gets involved in the passing game much sooner against the Ravens this week which could very well help the offense get off to a better start. Moving on to who I thought was the player of the game, Chris Olave. Olave took a little while to get going in conjunction with the offense but he ultimately did exactly what I thought he would do against Detroit, dominate. Olave took advantage of the Lion’s defensive backs all game long and with their starting safeties being injured Olave beat Detroit down the field for long gains multiple times. If Olave has enough games like this one against the Lions he could very well be in the offensive player of the year conversation when it is all said and done. The only obstacles I could see is his health and if his number of targets drops when Jordyn Tyson returns from his injury. Moving on to the defense, as a whole I thought the defense did a great job against the Lions. Holding them to seven points in the first half was great and even though the scoreboard showed they gave up thirty one points, fourteen of those came from short fields because of turnovers on offense. There was a lot of encouraging play across the defense, Jonas Sanker looked great in the star role and made some impact plays, whether they counted or not. On that note the duel between Chase Young and Penei Sewell did not disappoint as both had their moments throughout the game, with the biggest being Young’s strip sack that was not meant to be according to the officials. All I will say is even after the explanation there is just no way the officials called either Young’s play or all the other strip sacks across the league this weekend correct. Moving on, I would have liked to see Chase Young get more snaps on the opposite edge in what would have been a more favorable matchup for him against the Lions rookie offensive tackle. But not only for the matchup but also just to give the offense a different look so they do not just expect him in the same spot all game long. Speaking of aligning in different spots I thought Brandon Staley did a great job of moving Kaden Elliss around who then to his credit was able to take advantage and have a good game. However, an area of concern did rear its ugly head in this game which did not come as a surprise. The defensive line did not do a nearly good enough job stopping the run against the Lions. The Saints used a rotation of players along the defensive line throughout the game to try and keep players fresh which is a philosophy I believe in but with some older veterans in the mix I believe it would be in the Saints best interest moving forward to limit their snaps in favor of players like Vernon Broughton and Christen Miller. Vernon and Christen’s development would help raise the ceiling of the defense and improve the long term outlook on the defensive side of the ball. I expect the Saints to use more resources to shore up the defensive line when we get to the offseason but in the meantime the Saints will have to figure out how to get the best out of who they have on the roster. Overall I am concerned about the slow starts, the Saints and Kellen Moore have had enough of them now to where it is starting to look like a legitimate issue moving forward. If the Saints are to improve their chances against the best teams in the league they will have to be more productive early on in those games. I believe the slow starts can be fixed by Kellen Moore and the offense but I am not so sure the Saints have the answer to playing the run better on defense currently. But with those concerns I saw plenty of positives like Jonas Sanker settling in nicely to the Star role, Kaden Elliss being a versatile piece for the defense, Chase Young having a great battle with Penei Sewell, Shough and Olave connecting time after time on key plays. There is plenty for the Saints to improve on but after watching the tape they appear to be starting from a much better spot this season than in season’s past.
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