National Basketball Association

Pelicans: Players (Contracts) Likely To Be Moved This Summer

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:45 p.m. ET

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Mar 30, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) reaches for a rebound against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

As the New Orleans Pelicans look towards the future and building the team into a legit contender, some current players will become expendable. Below we'll take a look at the likeliest candidates.

It would be unwise not to maximize the potential of having both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins on the roster. Therefore, the New Orleans Pelicans will undoubtedly want to make changes this offseason.

The first order of business for the Pelicans this offseason will be to figure out whether or not the team will retain head coach Alvin Gentry.

After that, the focus will turn to starting point guard Jrue Holiday.

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to pull out all the stops and offer a near-max contract in an effort to resign Holiday.

Once that's (hopefully) complete, the next order of business will be to surround Davis and Cousins, along with Holiday, with established vets and players who can take the team to the next level.

But in doing so, the Pelicans will also have to move some of the players currently on the team.

In addition to Holiday, contracts for Donatas Motiejunas, Hollis Thompson and Reggie Williams are set to expire at the completion of the 2016-17 NBA season.

The remaining 11 contracts scheduled to be on the books for the 2017-18 season will account for a shade more than $89 million (assuming Dante Cunningham does not exercise his player option).

If Holiday is indeed retained, his current cap hold of close to $17 million for the 2017-18 season will come into play; which would increase the Pelicans cap number to a little more than $106 million — about $4 million above the projected NBA salary cap of $102 million.

To continue to build the roster, the Pelicans will have to open up some space and to do that players will have to be moved.

So with that on our minds, let's take a look at a few players the New Orleans Pelicans may be inclined to move this summer.

Dec 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives the ball defended by New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (right) during the third quarter at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 133-105. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Omer Asik

Omer Asik was brought in prior to the 2014-15 season as a defensive specialist whom the Pelicans thought would be a good fit to play alongside Anthony Davis. The experiment has largely failed.

But that didn't stop Dell Demps and company from rewarding Asik with a hefty five-year, $58 million ($43 million guaranteed) contract after a surprise playoff appearance following that same season.

Perhaps the decision was made while the Pelicans brass was still basking in the glory of getting swept in the first round by the Golden State Warriors — but the future to them apparently looked bright when the decision was made.

Since then, Asik has mostly underwhelmed while his skills have seemed to diminish. He's been in and out of the lineup due to injury and poor play. This season, Asik has only appeared in 31 games thus far and has been out since the All-Star break with a bacterial infection.

Prior to the trade deadline, as we all now know, the Pelicans were looking to add a big man to pair with superstar Anthony Davis. In addition to that, the Pelicans were also trying the impossible task of unloading Omer Asik's ridiculous contract, which you can read about more here.

The Pelicans were unable to to pull off a deal, so Asik remained.

The New Orleans Pelicans will no doubt once again attempt to unload the remainder of Asik's deal in the summer.

Dec 18, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca (42) shoots the ball as San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Danny Green (14) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Alexis Ajinca

Alexis Ajinca is another guy the Pelicans were rumored to want to move at this year's trade deadline.

Ajinca is an energy player off the bench who, as of late, has maximized his limited opportunities. He's a big-body defensive player who blocks shots and can step out and hit the 15-footer on the offensive end.

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He's at his best without the ball in his hands on offense as the guy on the receiving end of good playmaking.

His numbers won't jump out as it's the energy that he brings to both ends of the court that has become his most valuable trait.

Since the All-Star break, Ajinca posts a top-four offensive rating on the team with 105.7 and the best defensive rating with 94.2.

Unfortunately, Ajinca has been caught up in the numbers game all season and with the addition of Cousins, his opportunities have remained limited.

Ajinca is playing 14 minutes per game on the season and only 10.5 minutes per after the All-Star break.

Alexis Ajinca is a big who can still provide value to a lot of teams looking for a guy who can protect the paint while proving energy off the bench. When you take into account his cap hit in 2017-18 at more than $5 million, he'll likely be a candidate to be moved during the offseason.

Feb 15, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Solomon Hill (44) goes to the basket between Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons (25) and guard Mike Conley (11) during the second half at FedExForum. New Orleans defeated Memphis 95-91. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Solomon Hill

It's not saying much, but Solomon Hill will likely have the most trade value of the three guys mentioned.

He's mostly under-performed the four-year, $48 million contract signed last summer, but he remains an intriguing player because when he has it going, it's hard not to envision him as a good and important two-way player on a playoff roster.