5 takeaways from the trade sending Nikola Mirotic from the Bulls to the Pelicans

When DeMarcus Cousins went down with a season-ending Achilles injury, many wondered how Pelicans general manager Dell Demps would react. Would he continue pushing for much-needed help on the wing, or would he accept the merciless fates of the Basketball Gods?

Just kidding. Everyone figured Demps would be aggressive at the trade deadline because the Pelicans really, really need to make the playoffs this year; Boogie or no Boogie. So, Demps played one of the strongest hands, trading a top-five-protected 2018 first-round pick to the Bulls for Nikola Mirotic.

There were lots of other players involved including Jameer Nelson, Tony Allen, and Omer Asik’s contract, but that’s the deal in a nutshell.

This is the kind of move Demps has made a habit of pulling out of the midseason ether. His record as a team-builder is spotty, but the man knows how to identify problems and fix them during the season. Like any trade there are layers and levels to the deal that will take time to properly evaluate.

No one has time for that, so let’s have some random thoughts.

When his mood is right and the planets are aligned, Niko is one hell of a good basketball player. Three years ago, Mike Prada wondered if Mirotic was the secret ingredient in one last Thibodeauean playoff push and it was a legit question.

Niko is the definition of a stretch-four. He has range and can rebound a bit, so if you’re looking to space the floor and play five-out basketball, he can really help your cause. That hasn’t always been the case with the Bulls, and Mirotic hasn’t always helped himself with inconsistent play.

This year has been a breakthrough, however. He’s averaging 17 points and shooting 43 percent from three-point range in about 24 minutes a night. One assumes those minutes and shots will go up in New Orleans and we’ll have to wait and see before we know he can handle the load.

Guaranteeing the last year of his contract worth $12.5 million is a no-brainer. In theory, he’s an excellent fit ...

This has been a point of contention over the years. Like a lot of tall, super-athletic big men, AD sees himself as a forward. He’s not alone there. Al Horford has resisted the center designation forever.

To that end, Demps has gone out of his way to surround AD with large frontcourt partners. That’s why he spent so much money re-signing Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca. Those dudes took up a ton of cap space and have been expensive dead roster weight. (We’ll get to Asik in a second.)

Demps doubled down on the twin tower approach when he traded for Cousins at last year’s deadline and one has to acknowledge that it’s worked rather well. Both AD and Cousins were slated to be All-Star starters before Boogie’s injury, and Davis is having one of the best years of his career.

And yet, with Mirotic and his sweet, sweet shooting on board we may finally get to see what it looks like if Davis is unleashed as a five man. Selfishly, I’d like to see how that plays out.

A not-insignificant detail in this transaction is that Demps cleared roster space and stayed below the tax line to add Monroe, who was bought out by the Suns earlier this week. The Louisiana native is only 27 years old and can still play. He was an excellent sixth man for the Bucks last season and can be here, as well.

Monroe is an undersized center, which may complicate those AD-at-the-five fever dreams. Regardless of who starts, a three-man frontcourt rotation of AD, Mirotic, and Monroe has the makings of a nifty offensive combination. AD may have to work double time on the defensive end, but he’s been trending in that direction for a while.

To make the salary cap math work, Demps unloaded Asik and the two and a half years left on his contract, along with veterans Tony Allen and Jameer Nelson. Poor Omer doesn’t have a role in the NBA anymore. It was only five years ago when he was a valued commodity. Things change.

With more than $20 million guaranteed left on his deal, Asik is now a sunk cost. (Allen and Nelson are in the final years of their contracts). Obviously the players don’t matter for the Bulls.

The true value of the trade from their perspective is a top-five-protected first-round pick in 2018 that becomes top-eight protected in 2019 and unprotected in 2020. Assuming the Pels make the playoffs, the cost of their playoff pursuit is a mid-teens first rounder. If it’s in the lottery, something went horribly wrong.

Mirotic was a goner eventually, and the preseason fight with teammate Bobby Portis ultimately sealed his fate. One of them had to go. Getting a lightly protected first-rounder out of the equation will help them continue to add to what looks like a promising young core.

Good job, Bulls. You’re handling this rebuilding effort better than many of us thought.

The early word is that the Bulls will waive Allen, who’s battled a leg injury. Were I a contender with a spare roster spot, I’d think long and hard about adding the Grindfather for the stretch run if he’s healthy.

Nelson is another matter. The Bulls are said to be leaning toward keeping Jameer. They would be wise to wait and see if there’s a market for his services. Maybe there’s a second-rounder out there from some interested team, and teams should be interested in the 14-year vet. He’d also be a great tutor for Kris Dunn, but Nelson still has more to give to a contender.

Nelson was lost in the shuffle a bit in point guard-heavy New Orleans, but he can still run a team. There are a half-dozen playoff hopefuls who would improve with him on the roster. Nelson would look great in Washington where John Wall is out 6-8 weeks. Maybe a final lap with Stan Van Gundy in Detroit would be a better fit.

You know who could really use him? The Nuggets.

In sum, the Pels better make the freaking playoffs: This is the gamble teams make at the deadline. Frankly, they didn’t have a lot of choice given the tenuous tenures of Demps and coach Alvin Gentry. Beyond that, the Pels are now a fascinating team in the race for one of the final spots in the West.

Good trading, everyone!