Detroit Pistons: 3 teams that need a point guard and what they could trade

Detroit Pistons: 3 teams that need a point guard and what they could trade

New Orleans Pelicans

Current point guards: CJ McCollum, Jose Alvarado, Kira Lewis Jr.

Trade pieces: Naji Marshall, Kira Lewis Jr., EJ Liddell

The Pelicans roll without a traditional point guard in the starting lineup, as they have three players who can initiate the offense in CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. The latter two have rarely been healthy, so New Orleans could definitely use a player who can run the offense.

Plus, being able to run combinations of Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado, Dyson Daniels and Killian Hayes together would be really fun defensively, as all of those guys can get after it on the perimeter. The obvious choice for a trade would be forward Naji Marshall, who is a versatile defender who can also make plays.

The problem is that Naji is only making just under $2 million next season and the Pelicans are already near the luxury tax, which they never pay, and are already looking to send out salary, probably in the form of Kira Lewis Jr., a point guard who has been an even bigger bust than Killian.

So even though the Pelicans have a couple of wing players in Marshall and Lidell that the Pistons might want, trading for them won’t be easy without also taking on the contract of Lewis Jr.