Ryan Anderson Trade Rumors: Latest News and Speculation on Pelicans PF
The New Orleans Pelicans are the subject of trade rumblings after a surprisingly poor 6-18 start, and forward Ryan Anderson is at the forefront.
Continue for updates.
Gentry Comments on Anderson Trade Rumors
Tuesday, Jan. 12
Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry confirmed New Orleans has received inquiries from other teams regarding Anderson, per Sam Amick of USA Today:
"Yeah, but (he is consistently mentioned privately to reporters) by the other teams. Not by us, though. It's always the other team. We like Ryan on our team. He and AD really complement each other. He's playing some really good basketball for us. I wouldn't take a (complete) look at his numbers, because now everybody gameplans for him and he doesn't get all the shots that he used to get. But he's been playing good basketball for us, has been a good rebounder. We like him. Our guys like him on our team. And as I said, we have not made one (trade) call about him, but we've got a ton of calls that have come in about him.
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Report: Suns Interested in Acquiring Anderson
Wednesday, Dec. 16
According to John Reid of the Times Picayune, the Pels have held discussions with the Phoenix Suns to potentially send Anderson to the desert in exchange for disgruntled forward Markieff Morris.
The 27-year-old Anderson is on pace for one of his best seasons, as he is averaging 18 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in 22 contests thus far.
The former first-round pick is set to become a free agent during the offseason, however, which makes him expendable for a New Orleans team that can't seem to pull itself out of the doldrums.
Despite that, ESPN's Marc Stein reported the Pelicans are not actively looking to trade Anderson:
If New Orleans does opt to make a move, though, exchanging Anderson for Morris makes sense on a few different levels.
Morris isn't having a great year, with just 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, but he had a career season in 2014-15, and his struggles could be attributed to twin brother Marcus Morris' trade to the Detroit Pistons.
Also, Morris is a restricted free agent next offseason, which means New Orleans would have a much better chance of re-signing the 26-year-old big.
Anderson certainly hasn't been the problem for the Pelicans thus far, but a shakeup of some kind is needed, and Anderson may not even be in the franchise's future plans.
There also figures to be high demand for his services since he is a 6'10" forward who can shoot the three, so there isn't much incentive for the Pels to risk losing him for nothing.
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