New Orleans Pelicans Emerge As Surprising Suitor For Disgruntled Star

One would imagine that New Orleans would be one of the biggest sellers before the trade deadline passes. They have been featured in the NBA rumor mill as such.

Stars like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have captured the imagination of most. Even guys like CJ McCollum have been involved in trade speculation.

The main takeaway is that teams are champing at the bit to get their hands on some of the talent in New Orleans. Not many would believe that the situation would be the other way around. 

However, Sam Amico is not one of those people. The senior NBA writer for Hoops Wire believes the Pelicans could actually be buyers. Amico connected the Pelicans to the Miami Heat's disgruntled star, Jimmy Butler.

Butler was recently suspended by the Heat after cutting loose on comments in a press conference following a loss to the Indiana Pacers. It resulted in Shams Charania reporting that the Heat have changed their stance on moving the two-way star.

All things considered, it is still tough to envision the Pelicans being the ones to land Butler in the long run. 

New Orleans does have a trade chip in Ingram that could potentially serve as an enticing swap for a Miami team that wants win-now players. However, there feels like there is less incentive for the Pelicans to do that trade than there is for the Heat.

Imagining Butler as a player who sticks around in New Orleans for the long term, considering he has a player option he can decline in the offseason, is tough. It is difficult to see this connection made by Amico as one that has a lot of substance.