With the 2021 NBA Draft just three days away, the Grizzlies and Pelicans were the first teams to make a major deal this offseason.
The New Orleans Pelicans are finalizing a trade to send Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, 2021 picks Nos. 10 and 40, and a 2022 top-10 protected first-round pick (via the Lakers) to the Memphis Grizzlies.
In return, New Orleans received Jonas Valanciunas and 2021 picks Nos. 17 and 51, according to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Pelicans created an immense amount of salary cap space through this trade as Adams is owed $35 million and Bledsoe is owed an excess of $37 million over the next two seasons.
The Pelicans are now able to match any offer sheet on Lonzo Ball this upcoming August or pursue any significant free-agent point guard, including All-Star Kyle Lowry. They were also fortunate enough to move just seven spots down in the first round of a deep 2021 NBA Draft.
New Orleans also liked Valanciunas more as a floor spacer in comparison to Adams. He averaged 17.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game while shooting 36.8 (21-57 3pt) percent from three-point range.
For Memphis, the deal pushes them into the lottery at No.10 as they continue to add around their core of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Dillon Brooks.
Currently, Adams is set to remain on the Grizzlies heading into next season. He saw a dip in production last season with the Pelicans averaging just 7.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
Bledsoe, who was traded to the Pelicans in the deal that brought Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks, had an underwhelming first season in New Orleans. He averaged just 12.2 points and 3.8 assists per game on 42.1 percent shooting from the field.
Bledsoe is reportedly not expected to stay in Memphis, according to NBA Insider Chris B. Haynes for Yahoo Sports. Whether or not he will be traded once more or bought out by the Grizzlies remains unknown.
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