The noise is intensifying around the New Orleans Pelicans, and it’s only going to get louder.
As if the Pelicans haven’t had enough highlights through the first six weeks of their NBA season, they added one more to the list Saturday afternoon after a lifeless game. 119-101 loss to a five-win Brooklyn Nets team.
It’s the kind of loss that adds injury to insult for a team with the worst record in the league, but it also adds something else to the NBA narrative: trade talk.
Vultures are already circling the Pelicans (3-21) with two months until the NBA trade deadline, and word is flying with people around the league wondering how much it would take to pry some of the most prominent names off a team that desperately needs assets to prepare for an inevitable rebuilding process.
Multiple league sources have already said this Athletics that the Pelicans have not engaged in any trade discussions involving Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy or Herb Jones. But will that remain the case until the February 5 trade deadline? And what about some of the other interesting names on the list?
Let’s take a look at how the Pelicans should approach the constant trade rumors that will only increase if the losses pile up over the next few months:
Zion Williamson
Even if he once again proves his detractors right by derailing another Pelicans season with his constant injury issues, Williamson’s name will be the most popular among New Orleans’ potential trade candidates because his talent is so intriguing.
Although some of his efficiency numbers have declined in the 10 games he’s been healthy this season, Williamson is still capable of being a dominant offensive force whenever he’s on the court.
After missing time earlier this season with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, Williamson is expected to be out for an extended period again after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hip adductor strain. The Pelicans have not officially released a timetable for Williamson’s return, but team sources have indicated Athletics that Williamson will be re-evaluated after three weeks.
At the earliest, this would mean his potential return would take place closer to Christmas. But some people around the organization expect him not to return until early January.
Considering how disastrous this season has been for Williamson after Pelicans general manager Joe Dumars recommitted to him as the face of the franchise last summer, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before Williamson’s time in New Orleans finally comes to an end.
While some people in New Orleans would happily accept any comeback with the Zion drama, I highly doubt the Pelicans front office is approaching this situation with that mindset.
First, Williamson needs to get back on the court and prove that he can actually get a few weeks of healthy basketball under his belt before anyone makes a serious offer to acquire him. While some general managers wouldn’t hesitate to initiate a potential rehab project for Williamson, Williamson needs to do the work to show he’s committed to being — and staying — healthy.
While I expect there to be some interest surrounding Williamson before the trade deadline, making such a deal with another team willing to do enough contracts to match the $39.4 million he’s making this season won’t be easy. But more than anything, the Pelicans need assets; Are there any teams willing to give up valuable assets to take the risk on Williamson and his long injury history?
My guess is that a deal this complicated won’t be done until the summer, but there may be a team desperate enough to attempt a Williamson trade before the deadline. I think anyone who believes the Pelicans are going to give it up to the first shiny object thrown at them is mistaken. With all the criticism this front office has received since last offseason, they need to be very strategic about how they handle this situation, knowing that whatever decision they make will result in a visceral response from fans.
Trey Murphy and Herb Jones
If the Pelicans front office is on a mission to build its draft capital for the future, its best chance will be to see what other teams are willing to give up for Murphy and Jones. After trading away their unprotected 2026 first-round pick last June to acquire Derik Queen, the Pelicans will likely do everything they can to return in a loaded 2026 draft to add more young building blocks to the roster.
Murphy and Jones are entering the prime of their careers and they have long-term contracts that will become increasingly affordable as the salary cap increases over the next few seasons. But even though there will be tons of intrigue surrounding these two guys, I’d be surprised if the Pelicans seriously consider moving either one unless they’re blown away by offers they can’t refuse.
Murphy, in particular, is a player who brings tremendous value at 25 years old with elite athleticism and 3-point shooting ability. After this season, Murphy is still under contract for three more years and $87 million. This is a huge deal for a player with his skill set. If anything, the franchise likely learned this season that asking Murphy to be the No. 2 option on a winning team might be too much. But that doesn’t take away from the great value it brings as an offensive weapon.
Jones is another player who brings a skill set that would make him a prime target for playoff-contending teams, but his presence in the locker room and being the team’s best defender makes him a very difficult player to give up without quality compensation.
Could New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones (2) find himself in trade talks? He is considered a major asset within the franchise, mainly due to his defensive play. (Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images)
Remember, this same front office gave Jones a three-year, $68 million extension in July. After signing this deal, Jones won’t even be eligible to be included in a trade until January 14.
The Pelicans need to start thinking about the future and what they want a roster centered around 2025 first-round picks Queen and Jeremiah Fears to look like. There is no one on the roster who better matches Queen and Fears as a floor spacer and important scoring option who can take some of the pressure off them.
While some people are ready for the Pelicans to blow up and start from scratch, this organization has shown in the past that it doesn’t really want to get rid of such valuable players as Jones and Murphy just to get a fresh start. Some will argue that it would do them no good to take such a drastic tanking measure, because tanking will not benefit them this season.
If I had to guess who is more likely to be traded between Murphy and Jones, I would say Jones because there will be teams willing to give up at least a first round pick to add an elite defensive player once he gets healthy. Murphy will have a much higher price tag, and how many teams will be willing to give up that kind of upside for a player who is probably best suited as a No. 3 scoring option on a very good team?
With Jones, the Pelicans will have to answer some tough questions about a guy who has been the heart and soul of this team in the past. He has missed the last eight games with a strained right calf, but all indications are that he will be back relatively soon.
Will this be the team’s best chance to capitalize on Jones as a worthy trade piece? Or will keeping him and Murphy around allow Fears and Queen to get back into the playoffs much sooner than expected?
Expect to hear a lot from Murphy and Jones in the news over the next couple of months.
Others to watch:
- I would have veteran point guards Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray at the top of my list of potential trade targets once they are finally healthy. Murray, who hasn’t played a single game since tearing his Achilles tendon on Jan. 31 last season, could be a sneaky trade target once he returns to the field and teams examine him. Poole’s name will also be brought up a lot once he finally recovers from a quad injury that kept him sidelined for more than a month.
- Another name that I think will be really intriguing: Saddiq Bey. The veteran swingman was a great pick for the Pels, although he was initially considered a sideline for salary purposes when the team acquired Poole over the summer in exchange for CJ McCollum. Bey has been fantastic for New Orleans this year, even though the results have been disastrous. Bey only makes $6.1 million this season and $6.4 million next season; that’s an extreme bargain for a 26-year-old averaging 14 points and six rebounds. There will be a smart competitor that will swoop in and try to acquire Bey at some point.
- Don’t forget Kevon Looney and his $8 million team option next season. I can definitely see teams pursuing the veteran center with the intention of declining his option in 2026 to open up cap space on their future books. If they can turn what is essentially an expiring Looney contract into something of value, that would be a win for New Orleans, even if it means taking on someone else’s contract that might not be as desirable.
