Category: Basketball

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Where could free agent Malik Beasley land?

Malik Beasley is the best free agent available on the market. Last season, he finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting, averaging 16.3 points a game off the bench in Detroit, shooting 41.6% from beyond the arc.

He is still available in late August because just before the start of free agency he was named as a person of interest in a federal gambling probe, after which no team would go near him. Now Beasley is no longer a target in that U.S. Attorney’s investigation, according to his lawyers, which means the market might open up for him again.

Except that the market now is very different, as most teams have filled out their rosters and don't have the roster or cap space to pay Beasley what he deserves. Detroit is a good example. Beasley reportedly was talking with the Pistons about a three-year, $42 million contract prior to the federal probe, which stalled those talks. Now the Pistons have largely moved on, going out and adding Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson to fill Beasley's role and getting their roster up to 14 players. While the Pistons could sign him, it's unlikely now.

There are teams interested — such as the Cavaliers and Knicks, reports Michael Scotto of Hoopshype — but most contending teams could only offer him a veteran minimum deal. (Knicks reporter Ian Begley added the Knicks had done "background work" on Beasley.)

Other playoff teams with open roster spots that might have interest include the Timberwolves, Warriors and 76ers, however, the money situation is basically the same with all of them, it would be a minimum contract offer.

Beasley may ultimately have to sign a one-year, veteran minimum contract and then play his way into a bigger deal next summer.

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Pat Beverley boldy claims Warriors win more with Paul George than Klay Thompson

Pat Beverley boldy claims Warriors win more with Paul George than Klay Thompson originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Klay Thompson is a foundational pillar of the Warriors’ dynasty, but would Golden State have won even more NBA championships if another star shooting guard took his place?

Twelve-year NBA veteran Patrick Beverley certainly believes so.

During a recent episode of “The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone,” Beverley revealed he thinks Golden State would have won more than four titles if Paul George replaced Thompson.

“If you put Paul George in that role playing as Klay Thompson, playing with [Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala] at a point — obviously we know Paul George a couple years ago, was in the MVP race,” Beverley said.

“If you substitute those two, and we don’t know, we’re just going off what we think in basketball, I think that Golden State probably wins more championships.”

While George is a superstar in his own right, it’s a bold claim to assert that anyone could’ve stepped in and replicated, let alone exceeded the impact Thompson had on the Warriors while Golden State ruled the NBA realm. Particularly when George hasn’t played in an NBA Finals during his 15-year career.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters ever to pick up a basketball, Thompson perfectly complemented Curry’s superhuman perimeter shooting, creating a backcourt tandem the likes of which had never been seen before in the NBA.

Thompson spent 13 years in Golden State, earning five consecutive NBA All-Star selections while playing a pivotal role in ushering in one of the most dominant dynaties the league has ever seen as the Warriors won four championships.

On an individual level, George has the advantage when it comes to All-Star nods (9), All-Pro selections, (6) and All-Defensive honors (4). However, Thompson was a much more efficient shooter during the postseason while nearly equaling George’s playoff-scoring output in their respective careers.

Thompson also earned a reputation for delivering when the lights were brightest in elimination games, an aspect that can’t be overlooked when hypothesizing which player would contribute more to winning at the highest level the NBA has to offer.

Ultimately it’s an interesting thought excercise, but Thompson’s greatness and contributions to Golden State can’t be overlooked.

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Jordan & Kobe signed card sells for record $12.9m

An anonymous bidder paid a record £9.56m ($12.9m) at an auction for a basketball card signed by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant making it the most expensive sports collectable card in history.

The card is known as the 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Jordan & Bryant card and was sold by Heritage Auctions in the United States.

It had been in the hands of its previous owner for more than a decade and went into auction with a valuation expecting it to achieve £4.4m ($6m) or above. In total 82 bids were then received as the estimate was more than doubled.

The winning bid beat the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which was sold for $12.6m in August 2022, though the exchange rate at the time meant this was equivalent to £10.8m.

The Jordan-Bryant card is the second most expensive sports collectable ever, behind baseball legend Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series "called the shot" jersey which sold for £18.1m ($24.12) in August 2024.

Heritage's director of sports auctions Chris Ivy told ESPN the Jordan-Bryant card was "the pinnacle" for modern card collectors.

He added that "another one can't be created" and has always been looked at by modern basketball collectors as a "holy grail".

"The pre-auction estimate was $6m-plus. So sometimes if a piece is unique like this, it's really beneficial to let it have its day," Ivy said.

Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest player in NBA history winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls between 1991 and 1998.

Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in 2020, is also considered an NBA legend and won five championships during a two-decade stint at LA Lakers between 1996 and 2016.

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One-of-a-kind Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant Logoman card sells for record $12.9 million

How much money are you willing to spend on your hobby of sports cards? Is it $12 million?

A one-of-a-kind, 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Michael Jordan-Kobe Bryant Logoman card — one featuring NBA uniform logos and is signed by both legends — sold for $12.9 million at Heritage Auctions to become the most expensive sports card sold at public auction.

It surpassed the $12.6 million paid for a 1952 Mickey Mantle card sold in 2022. The Kobe/Jordan card shattered the previous record for the highest price paid for a basketball card, $5.2 million for a 2003-04 Exquisite Collection LeBron James Gold Rookie Patch Autograph card. This card is now the second-highest price paid at auction for any sports collectible, trailing only the $24.2 million forked over a year ago for Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series "called shot" jersey.

Heritage's director of sports auctions, Chris Ivy, called it "the finest modern basketball card in the world." When the auction opened, Heritage estimated that the card would sell for $6 million, still an NBA record, but the competitive bidding drove up the price — the auction had 82 bids.

The auction was timed to end on Mamba Day, 8/24.

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Milwaukee had no interest in talking Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Rockets (or anyone)

The only way the Milwaukee Bucks are ever going to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo is if he asks for a trade. He did not.

While other teams know that, they have to at least check on the possibility, and the Rockets GM, Rafael Stone, talked about doing so in a recent ESPN Radio Houston appearance (hat tip Real GM). To be clear, Stone would get fined for discussing Antetokounmpo directly — team officials cannot discuss a player under contract with another team — so the hosts asked him about potential blockbuster trades such as "the big man from Greece in Milwaukee," and Stone responded without mentioning names.

"I deal well with [Bucks GM] Jon Horst, I really like him. Jon was very clear that they weren't doing anything. So, that was that."

Stone pivoted and landed Kevin Durant instead, a player who makes them a legitimate threat to win the West this season.

While some pundits floated the idea of the Bucks initiating a trade for Antetokounmpo as a good basketball move — "if they're not title contenders anymore, better to pull the rip cord early and jumpstart the next rebuild" — that's living in a fantasy basketball world devoid of NBA reality. Milwaukee has a better chance of winning a title with a top-three player in the world on their roster than they do without, and getting players of that level to Milwaukee is a once-in-a-generation thing. As for the Bucks' fans, ask Nico Harrison and the Mavericks about what happens when a fan favorite and franchise anchor is traded early (Dallas got bailed out by the NBA Draft Lottery or that anger would still be a story).

A player of Antetokounmpo's status does far more than just help a small-to-mid-sized market win on the court, he makes the business profitable — the Bucks sell a lot of seats in the Fiserve Forum, and Milwaukee gets a lot of sponsorship dollars coming in, because companies want to be associated with Antetokounmpo and being on national television so much because of him. The franchise value is higher with him on the roster. Walk through the blocks around the Fiserve Forum before a Bucks game, and restaurants and bars are busy and pulsing with energy. What does that look like during year three of the rebuild?

The Bucks are not trading Antetokounmpo unless he asks. Knowing that, Antetokounmpo has used that leverage to get the Bucks to make all-in moves, such as trading for Damian Lillard, or then waiving and stretching Lillard to sign Myles Turner.

Eventually, Antetokounmpo may ask out. However, until he does, every call to Horst checking on Antetokounmpo's status will go a lot like Stone's did.

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Warriors trade talk: Called about LeBron James, Trey Murphy III, shot down Hield sign-and-trades

The Golden State Warriors' offseason remains in a holding pattern while Jonathan Kuminga's restricted free agency plays out. Al Horford, Gary Payton II and others are expected to sign in the Bay Area once Kuminga and the Warriors agree to terms.

None of that has stopped the rumors about the Warriors this offseason, and on Friday NBA insider Jake Fischer dropped a trio of them in The Stein Line substack.

Warriors called multiple times about LeBron

Back at last February's trade deadline, the Warriors tried to pry LeBron James away from the Lakers, but that effort went nowhere, in part because LeBron’s agent Rich Paul quashed it. That rejection did not stop the Warriors, Fischer said.

"I'm told that the Warriors have called the Lakers on multiple occasions over the past 18 months to see whether there is any trade pathway to pairing James with Stephen Curry, who roughly a year ago at this time was teaming with LeBron for the United States senior men's national team on its run to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics."

Golden State won't stop trying because this push comes from owner Joe Lacob — remember, he even called then-Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to pitch this idea at last year's deadline. That said, don't expect it to happen. After LeBron opted into his $52.6 million contract for this season, making this trade work under the cap rules (even with three or four teams involved) becomes nearly impossible. That is true of any LeBron trade. If he is leaving the Lakers, it likely will be next summer as a free agent (or in a sign-and-trade).

Warriors interested in Trey Murphy III

New team president Joe Dumar's long-term vision for the New Orleans Pelicans is... fuzzy. Around the league, nobody is exactly sure where the team is headed, which is why there remains considerable trade interest in several of their players.

One of those is Trey Murphy III and the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are interested in the two-way wing, Fischer reported.

Murphy averaged 21.2 points and 5.1 rebounds a game for the Pelicans last season, but he played in just 53 games due primarily to a shoulder injury, and staying healthy has been an issue in his career. Murphy is set to make $25 million next season in the first year of a four-year, $112 million contract.

Warriors shooting down Hield, Moody trades

It's a strange thing to say about Golden State considering its recent history, but this team lacks shooting. Which is why when teams called about possible Moses Moody or Buddy Hield trades — both are extension eligible and could be part of a sign-and-trade — the Warriors shot it down, Fischer reports.

"Sources tell The Stein Line, furthermore, that Golden State has refused this summer to even entertain sign-and-trade scenarios that would require it to surrender either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody because of the limited options currently on the roster in terms of proven shooters not named Curry."

Last season, Hield played in all 82 games averaging 11.1 points a game and shooting 37% from beyond the arc. Moody played in 74 games and averaged 9.8 points while shooting 37.4% from 3. Both are expected to have slightly larger roles on the team this season.

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Former NBA star Shawn Kemp given 30 days of home monitoring for Washington parking lot shooting

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former NBA star Shawn Kemp was sentenced Friday to 30 days of electronic home monitoring for shooting at two men inside a vehicle in a Washington state mall parking lot.

Kemp must begin home monitoring within two weeks, The Seattle Times reported. He must also serve one year of state Department of Corrections supervision and complete 240 hours of community service.

Prosecutors had recommended the six-time NBA All-Star be sentenced to nine months in jail, a year of supervision and pay restitution.

Judge Michael Schwartz of Pierce County Superior Court found the circumstances surrounding the crime warranted a lesser sentence, allowing Kemp to avoid incarceration.

Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence. He then repeatedly made the sign of the cross with his hand.

Kemp, who played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989 to 1997, pleaded guilty to an assault charge in May as part of a plea agreement.

No one was hurt in the March 2023 shooting.

Kemp said he acted in self-defense and returned fire after one of the men shot at him from inside their Toyota 4Runner vehicle.

The defense also claimed that the two men Kemp shot at provoked the shooting by stealing Kemp’s truck, his cellphone and memorabilia in Seattle. The judge agreed.

Using a phone-tracking app, Kemp located and briefly tried to talk to the driver of the 4Runner that was circling a casino parking lot, according to the trial brief. The men in the vehicle afterward dumped some of Kemp’s belongings but hung on to the phone, the brief says.

Kemp later saw his phone was near the Tacoma Mall. He drove there, spotted the same 4Runner and “expressed his understandable frustration” with the driver, according to the brief. The man in the back seat “fired off a round from a handgun at Mr. Kemp. Mr. Kemp returned fire and attempted to disable the Toyota. It did not work,” the document said.

The 4Runner fled, and when the vehicle was found abandoned days later, an empty holster was found inside but there was no gun, according to court documents.

After the hearing, Kemp said in an interview that “the last three years have been tough.” He said he plans to be an advocate against gun violence, especially among youth.

“Think twice,” he said. “Think twice when you get mad. Think twice when you get a little upset.”

Several people sent letters of support to the court on Kemp’s behalf. About 30 people attended the hearing, including his pastor and former NFL star Marshawn Lynch.

Kemp debuted in the NBA during the 1989-90 season as a 20-year-old who had never played college basketball. He also played for Cleveland, Portland and Orlando and was known for his high-flying dunks.

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Malik Beasley no longer a target of federal gambling probe, his lawyer says

Malik Beasley is no longer a target of a federal investigation into gambling on NBA games by NBA players, his attorneys have said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is conducting a broad investigation and Beasley's attorneys, Steve Haney and Mike Schachter, told multipleoutlets that Beasley is no longer a target in that investigation. The U.S. Attorney's office has not confirmed that, although it is not their policy to talk about who is or is not under investigation.

Beasley had been a person of interest in the case, with reports that the feds were specifically looking at a 2024 game (when Beasley was with the Milwaukee Bucks) that was flagged by at least one sportsbook. In that game, the prop bet of Beasley under 2.5 rebounds changed from +120 to -250 after large bets were placed. Beasley had six rebounds in that game. Here is what attorney Hanley told Shams Charania of ESPN:

"Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation," Haney told ESPN. "An allegation with no charge, indictment or conviction should never have the catastrophic consequence this has caused Malik. This has literally been the opposite of the presumption of innocence."

Beasley and the Pistons were reportedly in discussions about his re-signing in Detroit for around three years, $42 million, when news of the investigation went public. After that, any free agent talks around Beasley dried up. Announcing that he is no longer a target in the investigation — and Hanley's comments — are clearly about getting Beasley a roster spot in the NBA next season. Unfortunately, that is just tougher at this point in the offseason, when most teams have filled up their rosters and the kind of money Beasley was about to sign for is not really available as teams are dealing with the luxury tax and its aprons. For example, the Pistons now have 14 players under guaranteed contracts.

Beasley, 28, averaged 16.3 points a game while shooting 41.6% on 3-pointers for the Pistons last season.

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Where Jimmy Butler ranks on Stephen A. Smith's five players to watch in 2025-26

Where Jimmy Butler ranks on Stephen A. Smith's five players to watch in 2025-26 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are approaching their first full NBA season with Jimmy Butler in the mix after a successful half-season sample size.

Everyone, including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, will be keeping an eye on how Butler helps Steph Curry and Co. as they make a run at the 2025-26 NBA title.

Smith recently revealed his list of the top five players to watch during the upcoming NBA season, and the pundit has Butler ranked at No. 4, ahead of Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving and behind new Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić and Mavericks center Anthony Davis.

“Here’s why [Butler] is so important,” Smith said on “First Take” on Friday morning. “Because his teammate [Curry] is the greatest shooter God has ever created, who, by the way, hospitalizes opponents who chase him around stupidly, trying to find out how you can do what you can with him and then they got to go to the hospital for oxygen, for air, because Steph Curry can do that to you, OK?

“You can’t ask him at age 37 to continue to do that without stepping up and showing Jimmy Buckets who the hell Jimmy Buckets is, reminding the world of Jimmy Buckets and what he brings to the table. Didn’t see much of that against Minnesota after Steph Curry went down. Got to make up for that this upcoming season, a full season under your belt in Golden State, because if Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry are on their game, noise can be made in the Western Conference.”

Butler, last season, joined the Warriors’ lineup on Feb. 8. Entering that game against the Chicago Bulls, Golden State had a 25-26 record, but went 23-8 to close out the regular season with a 48-34 record, good enough to secure the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed and the top spot in the NBA play-in tournament, which they advanced out of.

In the Warriors’ first-round NBA playoff series against the Rockets, Butler averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists in six contests. He did sustain a pelvic contusion in Game 2 of the series that caused him to miss Game 3. He played in the final four games against Houston and scored at least 20 points three times, including 27 points twice.

Against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round, Butler was forced to carry the load for much of the series after Curry suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1, which the Warriors ultimately won. While Butler averaged 20.3 points in the four games without Curry, Golden State lost all four contests.

Curry gives any Warriors team a chance to win, but the franchise knows it needs him and Butler at the top of their game if they want to compete in a stacked Western Conference.

Dub Nation, the NBA world and Stephen A. all will be keeping a close watch on how Butler helps the Warriors this season.

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Unique Kobe Bryant-Michael Jordan card set to break price record on Mamba's birthday

The record for the amount paid for a basketball card is about to be broken by Kobe Bryant on what would have been his 47th birthday ... with some help from his "big brother," Michael Jordan.

The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs card featuring Bryant and Jordan is up for bid online at Heritage Auctions. Bidding closes Saturday at 8 p.m. PDT, with extended bidding available at that time.

As of early Friday afternoon, bidding for the one-of-one card had reached $7.015 million, including the 22% buyer's premium added to the successful bid. That already shatters the current record price garnered by a basketball card — the $5.9 million paid for the 2009-10 Panini National Treasures Stephen Curry Logoman Autograph card in a 2021 private estate sale.

Read more:'We wanted to throw a twist on it': Why an iconic Kobe Bryant image was altered for a Dodger-themed mural

With more than a day still remaining for bids, it's still tough to tell what the new record might end up being.

"Most likely, it'll end up somewhere in the $8-million range," Heritage director of sports collectibles Chris Ivy told The Times late Friday morning, although he added that he "wouldn't be shocked" if it went for $10 million or more.

The most anyone has paid for any sports card is $12.6 million for a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in a 2022 Heritage auction. The Curry card currently sits at No. 4 among all sports cards.

Read more:'Property of Sophie Cunningham': How a fan got Fever star to troll a rival player with her autograph

The Dual Logoman Autographs series of cards features the images and signatures of two iconic players, as well as NBA logo patches from a game-worn jersey from each player. Jordan appeared on eight such cards and Bryant was on 11, but this is the only one that paired the two of them.

"It's the only one that has Kobe and Jordan on it, and it has both their Logoman logos, and it's signed by both," Ivy said, "and so kind of all those factors combined together to make this the top card for modern card collectors. And we're seeing that in the price that it's generating right now."

Michael Jordan in a red uniform dribbles the basketball as he is guarded by Kobe Bryant in a gold uniform.
Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan eyes the basket as he is guarded by the Lakers' Kobe Bryant on Feb. 1, 1998, at the Forum. (Vince Bucci / AFP via Getty Images)

Cards featuring Jordan and Bryant individually haven't brought in nearly as much cash, with Jordan's top seller going for $2.93 million in 2024 and Bryant's going for $2.3 million earlier this month.

Ivy said it is a coincidence that the auction is ending on Bryant's birthday.

The beloved Los Angeles icon and daughter Gianna were among the nine people who died in a Jan. 26, 2020, helicopter crash in Calabasas. Jordan was one of the speakers at the father and daughter's public memorial held on Feb. 24, 2020, at Staples Center.

Read more:Michael Jordan bares the secret behind relationship with 'little brother' Kobe Bryant

"Maybe it surprised people that Kobe and I were very close friends," Jordan said. "But we were very close friends. Kobe was my dear friend, he was like a little brother."

He added: "What Kobe Bryant was to me was the inspiration that someone truly cared about the way that I played the game or the way that he wanted to play the game.

"He wanted to be the best basketball player that he could be. And as I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be. To do that you have to put up with the aggravation, the late-night calls or the dumb questions. I took great pride as I got to know Kobe Bryant that he was just trying to be a better person, a better basketball player."

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Warriors reportedly eyeing Cody Martin as potential target in NBA free agency

Warriors reportedly eyeing Cody Martin as potential target in NBA free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors appear to have a player in mind to add to their bench depth.

Golden State is interested in free agent wing Cody Martin, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported.

“Another name on the Warriors’ list of bench targets, sources say, is Cody Martin,” Fischer said. 

Entering what would be his seventh NBA season, Martin averaged 6.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 rebounds over nearly six seasons with the Charlotte Hornets — not too shabby.

But Martin struggled after getting traded to the Suns at the 2024-25 NBA trade deadline and averaged 3.7 points per game while making just three of 27 3-point attempts over 14 games with Phoenix. That is all before mentioning that the 29-year-old Martin has dealt with his fair share of injuries, playing in just 93 of a possible 246 games over his last three campaigns.

Martin clearly isn’t the most exciting option, but he is generating interest from competitive teams beyond the Warriors.

“The veteran swingman has received interest from numerous playoff teams this summer but is said to be waiting to see whether an opportunity with Golden State proves to be his most attractive option … or if it’s better to let the season start and see what opportunities arise after training camps begin,” Fischer wrote.

Golden State seemingly is waiting for the end of the Jonathan Kuminga saga to begin rounding out its roster. Once that happens, Fischer reiterated that the Warriors probably will go after other end-of-the-rotation pieces. 

“We’ve reported previously that Seth Curry and Malcolm Brogdon are candidates for a Warriors roster spot after Kuminga’s situation is resolved and the above three signings are completed.”

For now, Dub Nation must wait and see.

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Warriors reportedly have ‘strong affinity' for Pelicans' Trey Murphy III

Warriors reportedly have ‘strong affinity' for Pelicans' Trey Murphy III originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are interested in trading for another player to complement Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.

Golden State has been aggressive in looking for potential trades to fill out the roster, and they have a big interest in New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported.

“Sources say that the Warriors have a strong affinity for Murphy and have made outreach to New Orleans as recently as this summer,” Fischer said. “Yet sources say that the Pelicans, to be clear, have batted away calls for the 25-year-old, valuing him highly. The two-way forward will be playing on a contract in 2025-26 — at precisely $25 million — as desirable as his talent.

With contract talks at a standstill with Jonathan Kuminga, the Golden State front office has been looking elsewhere to find young talent that could complement their core trio. Murphy III would fit in with coach Steve Kerr’s motion-heavy offense, especially considering his shooting skills.

“You could certainly understand why the Warriors would want Murphy,” Fischer said. “It’s not hard to picture his length, defensive prowess and 3-point shooting meshing nicely alongside Curry, Butler and Draymond Green. Murphy is a career 38% shooter from deep; having enough shooting to surround their three core pillars is among the reasons why the Warriors have been willing to go only so far in their Kuminga talks.”

The 25-year-old averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season with the Pelicans.

Kuminga and the Warriors still are in a stalemate in contract negotiations, with the 22-year-old appearing unwilling to sign a deal that would make it easier for him to be traded next season. That level of long-term security seems to be the sticking point, which has prompted the front office to inquire about trading for other players.

With Curry, Green and Butler still performing at a high level, the challenge for the front office will be to find cheap, young players that can fill out the roster and perform when needed.

Murphy III could be that missing piece if the Pelicans are willing to part with him, though they have a steep asking price so far.

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