A team that was already on a very encouraging trajectory didn’t necessarily need to make a big splash prior to this NBA trade deadline from a short-term perspective, but when the exact type of player it was seeking became available, the New Orleans Pelicans acted. During a press conference prior to Thursday’s home game vs. Miami, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin explained that CJ McCollum’s availability came at an ideal time for what the Pelicans hoped to add.
“We felt like we were in a much more leveraged position than we were when we were 1-12, obviously,” Griffin said of the team’s recent outlook and 21-20 record since that start.