The Grizzlies and Pelicans have executed the primary main commerce of NBA Draft week.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that Memphis is sending Jonas Valanciunas and the Nos. 17 and 51 picks on this 12 months’s draft to New Orleans in change for Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, the Nos. 10 and 40 picks on this 12 months’s draft and a 2022 first-round choose (top-10 protected). There are loads of shifting components right here, however maybe probably the most fascinating facet of this commerce is the way it impacts a participant who shouldn’t be even a part of the deal.

NBA MOCK DRAFT: Is Cunningham or Inexperienced the No. 1 general choose?

By shifting off the Adams and Bledsoe contracts, the Pelicans may create as much as $36 million in cap area, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. That will imply not preserving restricted free brokers Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, although it is at the moment unclear how they plan to strategy negotiations with every participant. (If Hart stays however Ball leaves, that quantity drops to $25 million.)

So why would the Pelicans entertain the potential of dropping one or two proficient items of their backcourt rotation? As a result of they might land Kyle Lowry. The Raptors star will enter unrestricted free company this summer season, and there may be “rising buzz” that New Orleans is predicted to be among the many groups that pursue him, in accordance with Marc Stein.

It isn’t arduous to see why the Pelicans would need to signal Lowry. He fills an space of want as a veteran level guard, and he’s nonetheless able to being extremely productive and offering nice management for a workforce that has not reached the postseason since 2018. Lowry would even be an awesome match subsequent to Zion Williamson, who’s coming off his first All-Star season and may solely develop as a franchise cornerstone.

However New Orleans could not have gotten into the race with out cap area. Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reported Monday that Lowry needs a “assured three-year deal, averaging $30 million per season.” Even when Lowry falls wanting that $30 million expectation, it probably will not be by a lot. Now the Pelicans could make a sensible supply.

There will likely be different suitors, after all. The Warmth, Knicks, Lakers, Mavericks and Sixers may all become involved. However this commerce definitely turns the Pelicans right into a extra severe menace to win the Lowry sweepstakes.