Moments after the window closed for the New Orleans Pelicans to use the stretch provision and waive Omer Asik, the team traded Quincy Pondexter to the Chicago Bulls. Effectively, the move was made for salary cap relief.
Shams Charnia initially indicated the Pelicans were receiving a future second round pick in return, but soon after, word started leaking that it was New Orleans sending their 2018 second round pick to Chicago. This makes infinitely more sense from Chicago’s perspective because taking on salary AND trading away a future asset?