re: Trade Scenario: Pelicans acquire Rudy Gay, Courtney Lee and Jordan Mickey

That trade was pulled from the David Aldridge weekly column.

Here's his rationale for Phoenix:

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For its part, Phoenix just wants to turn the page. The Suns don't need another center with Tyson Chandler and Alex Len around, but both Chandler and Len tend to get hurt during a season. And taking on Asik's contract is the cost of getting rid of the 'Keef headache. Asik can always be re-routed in the offseason. And T.J. Warren's ready to step in at the three for Tucker.

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Here's what he says about the Pels:

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Make no mistake: it would be a gamble for the Pels to count on Lawson or Morris long-term. But where are they going, exactly, with their current roster? If Alvin Gentry wants to play fast, it would be worth it to take a good look Lawson. At the least, New Orleans wouldn't have to wait for Jrue Holiday to be ready to play big minutes the rest of the season. Morris would also fit right in with a pace and space game, and with his more than reasonable contract he could always be moved again if he turns out to bring the same baggage to the Pels that he's carried the last year with the Suns.

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And here's another one he had for the Pels:

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New Orleans sends F Ryan Anderson and F Alonzo Gee to Milwaukee for G O.J. Mayo and C Miles Plumlee.

The trade really is Anderson for Plumlee, with the expiring contract of Mayo thrown in. There just aren't going to be that many minutes available going forward in Milwaukee at the five, with Greg Monroe and John Henson locked in, and Plumlee showed during his stint in Phoenix that he can be very effective playing up-tempo, which is catnip for Alvin Gentry in Nawlins. He'd be a younger, quicker and better center playing next to Anthony Davis than Omer Asik. The Bucks aren't actually bad in three-point percentage (.350, 15th in the league), but more than half of Milwaukee's threes this season have been made by two guys—Khris Middleton and Jerryd Bayless. Anderson would spread the three-point love and spread the floor, giving Jason Kidd more lineup options if he wanted to go super-small. But Plumlee's been playing pretty well for the Bucks lately, making this harder to contemplate.

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