The Chicago Bulls made a late push at the trade deadline to bolster their frontcourt, zeroing in on second-year big man Yves Missi. But despite some real interest and a package of second-round picks on the table, talks with the New Orleans Pelicans ultimately didn’t cross the finish line.
League sources say the Pelicans weren’t willing to part with Missi unless a first-round pick was involved - a price the Bulls weren’t ready to meet. That stalemate kept Missi in New Orleans, at least for now.
The 7-footer has been one of the more intriguing names in trade chatter this cycle. Still just 21 years old, Missi has shown flashes of the rim protection and athleticism that made him a first-round pick in the first place.
This season, he’s averaging 5.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 53.8% from the floor. He’s appeared in 47 games, starting seven, and is logging just under 20 minutes a night - a noticeable drop from his rookie year, when he started 67 games and played nearly 27 minutes per contest.
That reduced role hasn’t gone unnoticed around the league. Teams like Chicago see a potential buy-low opportunity on a young center with upside.
And while the Pelicans weren’t ready to move him at the deadline, don’t be surprised if Missi’s name comes up again closer to the 2026 NBA Draft. New Orleans is reportedly looking to recoup a first-rounder in this year’s draft, and Missi could be a key piece in making that happen.
For now, the Bulls will have to move forward with their current roster as they try to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff mix. At 24-30, Chicago sits 11th in the standings and is riding a five-game losing streak heading into Wednesday night’s matchup against the Boston Celtics - a tough test before the league hits pause for All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
On the other side, the Pelicans are in a very different spot. At 15-40, they’re near the bottom of the Western Conference, but they’ve won two straight heading into Wednesday’s home game against the Miami Heat. While wins have been hard to come by this season, the front office seems focused on long-term value - and for now, that includes holding onto Missi unless the return is right.
The deadline may have passed, but the chess game continues. And Yves Missi? He’s still very much on the board.