New Orleans Bought Flexibility More Than a Player
At the 2015 trade deadline, New Orleans sent Oklahoma City a protected 2016 second-round pick for Ish Smith, the draft rights to Latavious Williams, a protected 2015 second-round pick and cash. The Pelicans waived Smith immediately, so this was never really an attempt to add him to the rotation. The transaction was a small asset-and-cash move completed on the same day New Orleans also acquired Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton and Shawne Williams in a separate deal.
Neither Conditional Pick Ever Conveyed
The draft terms ended up cancelling much of the theoretical upside on both sides. The 2015 second-rounder sent to New Orleans was heavily protected and never conveyed. Oklahoma City's incoming 2016 second was also conditional and never conveyed. That means neither franchise ultimately turned the pick exchange into a drafted player. In hindsight, the trade is easier to judge through the cash, the rights to Williams and the roster mechanics than through the nominal draft capital.
The Pelicans Kept the Tangible Value
Hoops Rumors reported that New Orleans received about $801,000 in cash along with Smith, Williams' rights and the conditional pick. Smith was waived, Williams never became an NBA contributor for the Pelicans and the 2015 pick disappeared under its protection. Even so, New Orleans gave up no realized draft asset because its 2016 second did not convey. The cash therefore became the clearest piece of completed value in the transaction, which is enough to push the Pelicans ahead on a very small deal.
Oklahoma City Created a Trade Exception but Little Lasting Return
RealGM records Oklahoma City receiving the conditional 2016 second and a trade exception. The exception had roster-management utility, but the pick never produced a player and the deal did not leave a lasting basketball asset. The Thunder were clearing pieces around a much larger deadline overhaul that brought in Enes Kanter, D.J. Augustin, Kyle Singler and Steve Novak. This side transaction served that broader flexibility, but on its own the realized return was thin compared with the cash New Orleans banked.
Final Verdict
Pelicans Win — New Orleans B, Oklahoma City C-. Both conditional second-round picks failed to convey, Ish Smith was waived immediately by New Orleans and Latavious Williams never became a Pelicans rotation piece. The difference is that New Orleans still collected roughly $801,000 in cash while surrendering no realized draft asset. Oklahoma City gained a trade exception and theoretical pick value, but the pick never materialized. The edge is modest, yet the Pelicans finished with the more tangible completed return.