The deal
Nets get: Forward Dante Cunningham
Pelicans get: Guard Rashad Vaughn
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New Orleans Pelicans: B-
Consider it a setup for a "life comes at you fast" tweet: On Saturday, Dante Cunningham started for the Pelicans. On Monday, he got a DNP-CD behind newcomer Nikola Mirotic. And on Wednesday, according to Jake Fischer of the Crossover, he requested a trade.
The Pelicans apparently acquiesced, sending Cunningham to Brooklyn. Between Mirotic and coach Alvin Gentry's willingness to play small lineups with Darius Miller at power forward, Cunningham probably wasn't needed in New Orleans at this point.
Dealing Cunningham for the cheaper Vaughn also gives the Pelicans slightly more money to go shopping in the buyout market. Using the remainder of its midlevel exception, New Orleans could offer a bit more than the prorated veteran's minimum. That's useful as the Pelicans continue to look for a center to help replace DeMarcus Cousins after Greg Monroe passed on their offer in favor of signing with the Boston Celtics.
We'll see whether Vaughn sticks in New Orleans, his third destination of the week. (He was traded from the Bucks to the Nets on Monday.) The Pelicans may prefer to use the roster spot on someone they can sign beyond this season.
Brooklyn Nets: B-
Clearly, the Nets weren't interested in Vaughn, acquired strictly as matching salary in the Tyler Zeller deal. Cunningham should stick around in Brooklyn a bit longer. Between Cunningham, Quincy Acy, DeMarre Carroll and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Kenny Atkinson will be able to throw out plenty of versatile frontcourts where players can cross-match defensively as needed.