Before the Utah Jazz proceeded to ship away each Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley to the Los Angeles Lakers to finish their commerce deadline’s multi-team swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the New Orleans Pelicans had practically snatched the 2 previous to the stated transaction.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe revealed to his Lowe Post podcast that the Pelicans got here up “close-ish” in buying the duo, as draft picks and the 23-24 wage of Mike Conley Jr. served as hindrances to getting the deal performed.

“The Pelicans were close to getting Beasley and Vanderbilt from Utah at the trade deadline, or close-ish,” Lowe revealed to ESPN colleague Kevin Pelton (h/t Hoops Rumors’ Luke Adams). “They had a pretty good offer on the table. It was a draft equity-based offer with a pick that maybe was not as good as the Lakers pick that they ended up trading, but pretty close, I think, from what I’ve heard.

“But one of the issues was – maybe the picks weren’t exactly equivalent – but then another issue was (Mike) Conley and the Jazz’s determination to get off of Conley (who is owed at least $14MM in 2023/24), and could the Pelicans figure that out somehow? And it became a little complicated.”

The Jazz ultimately nailed a deal that despatched each Beasley and Vanderbilt to L.A., who additionally acquired D’Angelo Russell from Minnesota. Utah, for its half, gained the Lakers’ top-four protected first-round decide in 2027 and several other property like Russell Westbrook who ultimately agreed to a buyout.

By having the Lakers’ 2027 decide, it allowed Utah to have extra advantages in the long term as they proceed to construct their future and desired basis.