Goal 1: Successfully trade for Anthony Davis
The window in which the Heat can trade for Davis is small. Even smaller if they have to wait for the Lakers negotiations, so let get right to it.
In this scenario, the Heat offer Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson, Bam Adebayo, as well as unprotected first-round picks in 2019 and 2023, in return, the Pelicans would have to trade Anthony Davis and Tim Frazier.
That is A LOT to offer, but remember this is for an all-NBA performer and top five player in the league. When coming to the negotiating table with the clock against you, as well as the Boston Celtics looming in the shadows, you have to come correct. You cannot afford to give a lukewarm first offer then sit around hoping they go for it or call you back with a counter.
This type of trade is honestly fair for both teams and puts a respectable product on the home floor for each squad.
Pelicans could roll out a starting five of Goran Dragic, Jrue Holiday, Josh Richardson, Julius Randle, and either Bam Adebayo or former Sixers first-round pick Jahlil Okafor. All top three players can finish inside as well as shoot the jumper and work hard on defense. With these players on guaranteed contracts though, this new Pelicans team might even be able to contend in the west next season or better yet successfully wait out the Golden State Warriors dominance with several first round picks over the next few seasons. Moreover, this trade also carries a bonus of instant gratification on draft night, allowing the Pelicans to gamble on the Heats fortunes as well as their own with two picks in the first round.
With so many outbound players, the Heat rotation will have a ton of space, and that may be the best thing about this trade, besides landing Davis of course. I imagine the Heat starting five would look like this: Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters, Tyler Johnson, Anthony Davis, and Hassan Whiteside.
This roster is pretty good for the rest of the season, but the gem here is being able to have room for the rotations to breathe, This would allow the Heat to bring up one of their two-way players for the rest of the season. Preferably Duncan Robinson, hopefully trading Wayne Ellington for a first to a contender in order to get back some draft picks that were traded to New Orleans for Davis.