New Orleans Pelicans Linked to Atlantic Division Big Man as Potential Jonas Valanciunas Replacement

The New Orleans Pelicans could be on the lookout for a new big man in the summer, and one name that has been floated in the rumor mill is Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype , the Pelicans could lose Jonas Valanciunas in free agency with the team potentially having no big desire to keep him via a new contract. Such a scenario could widen the door for the Pels’  possible pursuit of Claxton.

Two teams with the ability to make a sign-and-trade agreement potentially happen are the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans. I know there are members of the Pelicans organization who like Claxton, and the future of Jonas Valanciunas is uncertain, given how close the team will be to the luxury tax next season and his lack of usage at the end of the games, including the Play-In loss to the Lakers. I know Grizzlies fans have been in my mentions and quote tweeting my Claxton video where he talked about being an unrestricted free agent, but I’m not sure yet how high the Grizzlies are on Claxton.