Trade Four: Clippers Strike Gold and Land Anthony Davis
Well, this is fun to think about right?
The Pelicans have the number one pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and will likely draft Zion Williamson with that pick. Even after that, the Pelicans learned that star Anthony Davis wants to be moved out of the Big Easy and the Pelicans will likely try to move him and here is a trade that would benefit them greatly.
The Pelicans get Gallo, a prolific scorer who will be gone after a year if they so choose to let him walk. They also get Montrezl Harrell, a proven center who will fight night-in and night-out while they also get All-Rookie 2nd Team guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who gives the Pelicans leeway and flexibility to trade guard Jrue Holiday and continue the rebuild.
Meanwhile, the Clippers pick up a top-10 NBA player and still leave room to sign a superstar alongside Davis. They do give up a ton here, losing SGA and Harrell and multiple first rounders, but LA is in win now mode with cap flexibility and this would be a grand slam for Steve Ballmer and company.
Davis’ presence alone would likely attract Clippers hopefuls Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard or any other free agent with their eyes on the Clippers and the supporting cast could still be structured nicely by resigned JaMychal Green, Ivica Zubac, Patrick Beverley, Wilson Chandler and Rodney McGruder. That team combined with a young second-round rookie, say Shamorie Ponds as a backup guard, could make noise in the Western Conference.
Gallo could be staying with the Clippers for another year or move on to new pastures, it is pretty unclear what Clippers management plans on doing with the veteran forward. Whatever they do plan to do with Gallo, it will likely benefit LA with him staying and continuing to benefit scoring statistics or by removing his contract off the books and aspiring to sign multiple superstars.