The Pelicans are receiving calls about the No. 8 overall pick and the team is willing to listen to offers, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports.
David Griffin has traded down in the past during his New Orleans tenure, moving the No. 4 overall pick to Atlanta back in 2019 for a package of picks, including the No. 8 selection in that draft (Jaxson Hayes). Pure speculation here but perhaps the two sides again look to make a deal.
New Orleans is in dire need of outside shooting and Atlanta is reportedly open to listening to offers on everyone outside of Trae Young as they look for a star. Moving Bogdon Bogdanovic along with the No. 16 selection to the Pelicans for the No. 8 selection, Devonte’ Graham, and Garrett Temple would work salary-wise and give Atlanta a better trade chip as they go star hunting this offseason (along with a solid backup point guard option in Graham).
If Atlanta is unable to trade for a second star, adding someone like Bennedict Mathurin or Jeremy Sochan would give the Hawks another long-term piece with higher upside than the No. 16 pick would likely garner.
More on the Hawks
- The Blazers have interest in trading for John Collins, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report (via the Dun’d On Podcast). Portland appears set on adding veteran help for Damian Lillard and they have reportedly dangled the No. 7 overall pick in trade talks with teams (though it’s unclear if any Collin-to-Portland deal would include the selection).
- Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley worked out for the Hawks on Friday. Wesley is expected to be selected in the back half of the first round.
- Shareef O’Neal, who is the son of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, is expected to work out for the Hawks in the coming days. O’Neal is expected to be selected in the first round, though Atlanta owns the No. 44 selection and that could be a spot for 6-foot-10 forward.
