Reports: Pelicans trade Quincy Pondexter and second-round pick to Bulls

The New Orleans Pelicans are set to trade wing Quincy Pondexter to the Chicago Bulls, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports:

Chicago finalizing a deal to send a second-round draft pick to New Orleans for forward Quincy Pondexter, league sources tell The Vertical.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 31, 2017

Charania’s initial details were later corrected by Vincent Goodwill‏, Bulls insider for CSN Chicago, who says the Pelicans will SEND a 2018 second rounder and cash to the Bulls along with Pondexter:

Bulls are trading for Quincy Pondexter and receiving a second round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell https://t.co/Wi2L33BR3e

— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) August 31, 2017

The second round pick from the Pels to the Bulls is for 2018, it should be noted. The Bulls are getting a pick and cash

— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) August 31, 2017

Unable to play for the past two seasons due to injury, Pondexter is entering the final year of his current contract owing him $3.853 million. Considering the need for the Pelicans at small forward, the move to dump Pondexter is a salary related decision to add help by other means. New Orleans also receives a trade exception in the deal.

The Pelicans free up a roster spot and inch away from being hard capped with the trade. New Orleans also gains more flexibility to potentially re-sign forward Dante Cunningham and add a free agent such as Josh Smith, who reportedly worked out along with two other journeyman forwards recently with the Pels.

Solomon Hill, the Pelicans starting small forward, will miss a large chunk of the upcoming season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn hamstring. The only veteran currently signed by New Orleans who is a naturally fit at small forward is Darius Miller.

Also on Thursday, another injury blow hit the Pelicans when it was reported their only draft pick, guard Frank Jackson, needs surgery to repair a broken foot.