
The Finances
For the New Orleans Pelicans, the three biggest contracts on the payroll belong to DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and Jrue Holiday. With all three players being labeled as untouchable, however, a deeper look into the finances will be required.
With Carmelo Anthony due to receive a hefty $26,243,760 in 2017-18, and the Pelicans well over the luxury tax line, Dell Demps will need to get creative.
The next two biggest contracts on the roster belong to Solomon Hill at $12,236,535, and Omer Asik at $10,595,505. Hill is due just under $36.8 million over the next three seasons, and Asik is due $24,882,021 in that same timeframe.
Asik has an early termination option for $2019-20, and is owed a guaranteed figure of $3 million during that distant season.
With both players on contracts that New York will likely turn down, it becomes difficult to see an end. E’Twaun Moore is owed $25,918,637 over the course of the next three seasons, which could make him an attractive option for the Knicks.
A package of Hill, Moore, and a first-round draft pick could bring New York to the negotiating table, but one can’t help but feel as though there are better options.