#2 New Orleans Pelicans
What the Pelicans receive: Carmelo Anthony
What the Thunder receive: E'Twaun Moore, Solomon Hill, Alex Ajinca and cash considerations
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Why the Pelicans agree to the deal: The Pelicans have declared their intent to re-sign DeMarcus Cousins this offseason to a long-term contract, and will probably follow through on their promise. Yet, we saw early this season that despite having 4 players who've been on All-Star teams at some point in their career, the Pelicans were clearly not able to pack enough of a scoring punch from the perimeter.
Signing Carmelo Anthony gives them a player with the ability to knock down jump shots from a variety of ranges. Should they re-sign Rajon Rondo this summer, they will also have a playmaker with the ability to put the ball in Carmelo's hands at the best possible junctures of an offensive possession.
A lineup of 5 All-Star caliber players is possibly the only recipe to beat the 4 All-Stars residing in Oaktown.
Why the Thunder agree to the deal: In E'Twaun Moore, the Thunder receive a 3-and-D player with the ability to get really hot from distance on his day. While Moore has his off days, he is an above-average player on defense and will never be a net negative on the whole even on those days.
Adding Solomon Hill improves the Thunder's depth chart at the forward positions, and gives them another reliable defender with the physique to take on assignments at multiple positions during the course of a game.
Ajinca's expiring contract is another asset the Thunder can use to sign players during the mid-season trade window.
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