As two teams that are currently outside the playoff hunt, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Milwaukee Bucks need to make trades.
The two teams can actually help each other based on the players they already have. For the Bucks, what they need is a defensive big man, as per Bleacher Report. They note that the departure of Zaza Pachulia has hurt them, bringing their defensive efficiency all the way to 29th.
"In Pachulia's place is Greg Monroe, who is more of an offensive-minded player," B/R wrote. "This team could benefit from trading for a defensive big man in order to balance things out and get them back to their 2014-15 form, when they finished sixth in the Eastern Conference."
It would be tough to trade Monroe as he is their big free-agent signing last summer. However, it would be tougher for the Bucks to continue losing.
On the other hand, the New Orleans Pelicans do have a defensive big man, but they need added offensive options to support Anthony Davis. Thus, a trade has been proposed in Real GM, centered around Monroe.
Greg Monroe and former Rookie of the Year awardee Michael Carter-Williams could be sent to the Pelicans in exchange for Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans and Ish Smith.
Asik is a defensive big man and Tyreke Evans could add more scoring. Ish Smith has also proven to be a very qualified reserve playmaker and even started in some games early on in the absence of Jrue Holiday.
There are some quarters who would rather take Holiday instead of Evans and a draft pick instead of Smith. But the foundation of the trade is still the offense-defense trade off of Monroe and Asik. As Monroe has more value, the Pelicans will have to add more pieces to sweeten the deal.