The NBA trade deadline is coming up and that has a number of teams looking at deals and rumors have the New Orleans Pelicans starting to get "active" after losing Jason Smith to an injury and reports have the team looking at acquiring a big man and players like Thaddeus Young or Spencer Hawes with the Philadelphia 76ers could be options.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Pelicans are starting to look at possible deals after dealing with injuries to Ryan Anderson and Jason Smith and that could lead them to a deal with the Sixers. Reports have GM Sam Hinkie looking to rebuild through trades and acquiring draft picks and along with Evan Turner he is expected to deal Young or Hawes or both players. Young is having a very solid season and Hawes has been very reliable and either of those players could step in for Smith for the Pelicans as they try to turn things around in the west.
The Pelicans were expecting to contend for a playoff spot after trading for both Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans this offseason, but so far that hasn't worked out. The team is building around Anthony Davis and after keeping Eric Gordon from the Suns a couple years ago, they could trade him since they have Evans and Holiday. Gordon could net the team a solid haul and getting someone like Young could be a good option as well after signing Evans to a four-year, $44 million deal and he is averaging just under 15 points per game this season.
Holiday is dealing with an injury and has a stress fracture and now the Pelicans need to get back some depth after dealing with the injuries to Anderson and Smith. Anthony Davis was injured for a time as well and that could get the team to make a move at the deadline. The team is on the cusp and is in the eighth spot for the time being and according to NJ.com, the Sixers are starting to get closer to a deal for Evan Turner and Hawes could be next. The report says that western conference teams are looking at Hawes as a trade option.
