you can easily frame it both ways.
From the Pelicans point of view, they got the package they did with 1 year left on the guys contract and likely no other serious bidders.
In any trade, both GM's want to be able to go to the owner and say "We won the trade and here's why..."
Both Griffin and Pelinka can do that.
Griffin can tell Gayle Benson that he got some nice young talent, this years #4 pick and 2 future firsts all of which can be developed or used in other moves to improve the team for a guy who wasn't re-signing anyway.
Pelinka can tell Jeanie that they got a top 5-7 player who hasn't reached his prime yet to pair with Lebron, kept Kuzma and still have enough cap space to add some quality players around them.