New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have long been a perceived target of Kevin Durant, and while many people further agree that Durant would never sign with NY because of the constant mess that dysfunctional owner James Dolan has placed the franchise under, if Durant does sign there, at that point maybe NY can swing a trade for Anthony Davis (then potentially sign someone like Kyrie Irving putting together a very serious Big Three).
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This is easily the lowest immediate trade return that the Pelicans could receive out of any of the packages that I have proposed, but much like the Lakers’ deal, they get to put their rebuild into hyperdrive.
The caveat to this deal is that they receive the third overall pick rather than the Lakers’ fourth, which allows them to draft R.J. Barrett, arguably the second best player in the draft.
Why the Pelicans would be willing to pass up on Dennis Smith Jr. is dates back to the belief that N.O. intends on retaining Jrue Holiday.
Personally, I also do not believe that they would want to place themselves in a similar situation to the one the Dallas Mavericks had with playing Smith out of position next to Luka Doncic.
Phoenix can swoop in and collect their point guard of the future, and while they have to give up two pieces instead of the one that I had been proposing to this point, they are arguably getting the best point guard of any who has been proposed here, and essentially they get to walk away from Josh Jackson who is in some trouble.