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New Orleans Pelicans Could Go Over Top With Kevin Durant Trade
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- New Orleans Pelicans Could Go Over Top With Kevin Durant Trade
On August 26, the New Orleans Pelicans signaled their intention to exit their rebuild and turn back into a playoff team when they signed Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year, $16 million contract.
Related: How Good Are the Pelicans After Surprise Bennedict Mathurin Signing?
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These are the types of signings that rebuilding teams don't make, as Mathurin is on a two-year deal with a player option, meaning he hopes to have a massive year next season before entering the free-agent market again next summer for an even bigger deal.
He's basically a hired gun for New Orleans, and if Mathurin has a big year, then the Pelicans could be a playoff team.
That's a good start, but if they truly want to top the conference, they should go get Kevin Durant from the Houston Rockets .
Kevin Durant would be a huge get for the Pelicans and their playoff hopes next season.Tyler Kaufman / Getty Images
Pelicans/Rockets Trade Proposal
Durant makes $43.9 million next season, so the Pelicans will need to match salaries to bring him in.
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It's also worth noting that the Pelicans will be hard-capped at the first apron due to Mathurin's signing, so they need to get the salaries as close as possible to bring Durant in.
So, here's my proposal.
The Rockets trade Durant ($43.9 million) and Fred VanVleet ($25 million) for Dejounte Murray ($32.8 million), Trey Murphy III ($27 million), and Jordan Hawkins ($7 million). That trade would have the Rockets sending out $68.9 million and the Pelicans sending out $66.8 million, so the money is very close and can be matched perfectly by New Orleans throwing in a minimum-salaried player to 100% match the money.
It would be a big move for both teams, as the Rockets would send two older veteran players still playing well in exchange for a young star in Murphy, a former All-Star in Murray, and a depth piece in Hawkins.
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With Durant having just one year left on his deal, this is probably the best value that Houston could get for their aging star, one that could help New Orleans get over the hump and become a potential playoff contender in the Western Conference next season.
More Kevin Durant:
New Orleans Lineup With KD
Here's what New Orleans' lineup would look like following this proposed deal:
PG: Fred VanVleet
SG: Bennedict Mathurin
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Zion Williamson
C: Derik Queen
Bench: Jeremiah Fears, Jordan Poole, Herbert Jones, Saddiq Bey, DeAndre Jordan, Yves Missi, Karlo Matkovic, Mitch Peavy, Jaron Pierce Jr., Trendon Watford, DeAndre Jordan
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This is a solid team, and one that is better than the current iteration of the Pelicans, as bringing in Durant and VanVleet — two NBA Champions — would immediately help New Orleans turn the corner from a young team on the rise to a potential playoff contender.
Related: Wizards Should Connect With Kevin Durant for Homecoming With Anthony Davis
The point of trading for Durant would be to pair him with Pelicans star Zion Williamson and hope the two stars help lead New Orleans back to postseason glory.
Losing Murphy hurts, but that's the price they would have to pay to get Durant, who might be 38 but who still has good trade value since he was a Second Team All-NBA player last season.
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If the Pelicans truly want to make the playoffs next year — and given the Mathurin signing, it appears that's their goal — then they have to continue to take these big swings
That's why making a trade for Durant to bring him to New Orleans is the kind of high-risk, high-reward move that Pelicans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars has to seriously consider if the goal is to truly be a postseason threat.
It's a risk worth taking. Now, let's see if they have the guts to pull the trigger.
This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Aug 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
