Those waiting for the New Orleans Pelicans to hit the reset button and blow things up ahead of this year’s NBA trade deadline are probably going to be disappointed around this time next week.
With the deadline officially a week away, the Pelicans are one of the teams at the forefront of rumors because of their 12-37 record (last in the Western Conference), and the perception around the league is they will be one of the teams aggressively looking to make some moves.
Although most of the interest is on the biggest names on the roster, sources tell The Athletic it’s unlikely that Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy or Herb Jones will be moved before Feb. 5. While the Pelicans are focused on building a future around 2025 first-round picks Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, there’s still belief around the team that Murphy, Jones and Williamson can be foundational pieces of the puzzle moving forward.
As of late, with the team finally as close to healthy as it’s been all season, New Orleans is showing signs of growth on both ends of the court. Before suffering a 104-95 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, the Pelicans picked up back-to-back impressive road wins at the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs.
The Pelicans are 7-7 with a healthy Jones in the lineup since turning to James Borrego as interim head coach. Per Cleaning The Glass, lineups featuring Williamson, Jones, Murphy and Saddiq Bey have a plus-9.8 net rating. While those numbers are based on a small sample size, the front office wants to see more before making any drastic changes.
So, what other moves can New Orleans consider before the trade deadline?
One of the names drawing the most interest around the league is that of center Yves Missi. The former first-round pick is averaging 5.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in his second season after New Orleans took him with the No. 21 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Although Missi remains somewhat of a developmental project, he can be an elite offensive rebounder and a very good shot blocker if deployed in the right role.
Several teams have shown interest in Pelicans center Yves Missi before the NBA trade deadline. (Daniel Dunn/ Imagn Images)
One of the Pelicans’ main priorities heading into the trade deadline is acquiring a 2026 first-round pick after trading theirs away last offseason in the Queen deal. Considering the guys they don’t want to move, Missi might give them the best chance of achieving that goal.
Several teams have called to check on what it may cost to get Missi, with the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks among those showing the most interest, league sources told The Athletic. Still, it’s not a foregone conclusion the Pelicans will move him before Feb. 5.
The Pelicans think highly of his potential and don’t mind the idea of seeing how a Queen/Missi frontcourt could operate. There have been whispers since the start of the season about Missi’s desire to be put in a situation where he has a clear path to becoming a full-time starter. But as more teams get involved in trade discussions, and perhaps more proven centers like Domantas Sabonis, Daniel Gafford and Bobby Portis are potentially made available, Missi’s future will become clearer.
One rumor making the rounds involves sending Grizzlies star Ja Morant to New Orleans in a deal centered around veteran guards Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray. But a league source told The Athletic the rumor was “completely false” and the likelihood of Morant landing in New Orleans is extremely low because the team believes in Fears as its point guard of the future.
Yet while this particular deal seems unlikely, there is a growing sentiment that the Pelicans would prefer to move one — if not both — of the contracts attached to Poole and Murray.
Poole, a healthy DNP in the Pelicans’ last two games, is having an awful season, and keeping him on the floor has been difficult for a team fighting to establish a defensive identity. Along with his defensive struggles, Poole is shooting 37 percent from the field, the second-lowest shooting percentage of anyone this season with at least 300 field goal attempts. The only player below him is Raptors reserve guard Jamal Shead.
Poole still has one year and $34 million left on his deal after this season, a point of major criticism for the Pelicans after they traded for him last summer. The “Jordan Poole trade” has rapidly become the “Saddiq Bey trade” to folks in New Orleans, as Bey’s surprising production this season — along with the promising play of second-round pick Micah Peavy — are the only reasons that move hasn’t been viewed as a complete disaster.
Murray, who hasn’t played a game this season as he continues his recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained a year ago, hasn’t been seen around the team in months, as he’s spent most of his time rehabbing in Las Vegas. Murray is set to make $32.7 million next season, and he has a player option for $30.7 million in 2027-28.
All indications from folks on Murray’s side suggest the 29-year-old would prefer to find a new destination ahead of the trade deadline.
Jose Alvarado is another Pelicans veteran point guard who will receive some interest on the open market. The 27-year-old is averaging 7.9 points and 3.2 assists per game, and is viewed by several teams as a reserve who could have an immediate impact with the right team. He has a $4.5 million player option remaining on his deal after this season.
Jose Alvarado could be a reliable reserve point guard for a few teams as the NBA trade deadline nears. (Stephen Lew / Imagn Images)
League sources have told The Athletic that the Knicks, Spurs and Houston Rockets are among the teams to express interest in Alvarado. However, those familiar with Alvarado’s thinking have said his preference is to remain in New Orleans.
Jordan Hawkins, who the Pelicans selected with the No. 14 pick in the 2023 draft, is another name to keep an eye on, according to league sources. Hawkins’ playing time has dipped considerably in his third season, and both sides would prefer to find him a new home.
Something else to consider in potential deals involving Missi, Alvarado and Hawkins: The Pelicans are big believers in 23-year-old guard Bryce McGowens, who has played well after signing a two-way contract with the Pelicans before the season.
The Pels would like to open up a roster spot in the hopes of signing McGowens to a standard contract that’ll keep him around beyond this season. But, much like everything else with the Pelicans over the next week, there are a lot of moving parts that’ll determine whether such a move is in the cards.