The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly willing to make moves. Following a disappointing 21-61 season, the team is said to be open to trading any player on their roster if the offer is right.
According to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, who identified the most likely trade candidate from each NBA team, Kelly Olynyk is the top name for the Pelicans.
According to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, who identified the most likely trade candidate from each NBA team, Kelly Olynyk is the top name for the Pelicans.
The New Orleans Pelicans are dangerously close to hitting the luxury tax threshold, especially when considering the cap holds for both the No. 7 overall pick and their newly acquired No. 23 pick. It’s clear they won’t just accept that situation.
Despite just acquiring the 12-year NBA veteran, the Pelicans may look to move him soon.
The most efficient way for them to create more financial flexibility would be to offload Kelly Olynyk’s $13.4 million expiring contract. His deal could easily be absorbed using another team’s $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception or traded for a player with a smaller salary—without the Pelicans needing to include a valuable asset to facilitate the deal.
Even if a deal like CJ McCollum for Tobias Harris and a few second-round picks is available from the Detroit Pistons, the Pelicans likely value McCollum more than Olynyk right now—especially given Dejounte Murray’s recovery from a torn Achilles and the unpredictable situation surrounding Zion Williamson.
Olynyk was just brought over in the Brandon Ingram trade, but his expiring contract could be valuable to the right team. Many organizations are looking to clear cap space for the 2026 offseason when there could be a better slate of free agents, and they’ve been more adjusted to the new tax aprons that are handicapping every team.
