After a brutal 4-22 start to the season, the New Orleans Pelicans are firmly in the NBA’s trade deadline spotlight - but don’t expect a fire sale. Around the league, there’s growing interest in what the Pelicans might do, but any team hoping to snag one of their core young pieces better come with a king’s ransom. Because when it comes to certain names, the message out of New Orleans is clear: don’t even bother asking.
Two rookies in particular - Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears - have emerged as untouchable within the organization, according to recent reporting. And honestly, it’s not hard to see why. These two have quickly become the heartbeat of a team in transition, and despite the rough start, they’re giving Pelicans fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the future.
Let’s start with Queen. The 6-foot-9 big man is already turning heads across the league with a skill set that’s rare for a player his size.
He’s got the passing vision of a guard and the feel for the game that usually takes years to develop. When the Pelicans’ offense runs through him, it just looks smoother - more connected.
There’s a reason some are already drawing comparisons to the likes of Nikola Jokić and Alperen Şengün. That’s not to say he’s at that level yet, but the flashes are there.
And for a franchise that made a bold move to acquire him on draft night, those early returns are looking more and more like a home run.
Then there’s Fears, who might not be generating the same headlines as Queen just yet, but is quietly putting together a very impressive rookie campaign. He just turned 19 and is already averaging 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
That’s not just solid - that’s rarefied air for a teenager in the NBA. He’s got a natural knack for scoring, especially getting to the rim, and he’s beginning to show more confidence in his jumper.
Even if he doesn’t evolve into a primary playmaker, he profiles as an ideal long-term backcourt partner for Queen. Their chemistry and complementary skill sets could be the foundation of something special in New Orleans.
So yes, the Pelicans are struggling right now. But they’re not panicking. These rookies aren’t just part of the plan - they are the plan.
That said, the trade chatter doesn’t stop with the rookies. League executives are also keeping a close eye on Trey Murphy and Herb Jones.
Both are drawing interest, and for good reason. They’re versatile, two-way wings on team-friendly contracts - the kind of players every contender wants.
But here’s the thing: New Orleans isn’t in a rush to move them, either. It would take a massive offer - the kind that makes a front office stop and think twice - to pry either of them loose.
Murphy brings shooting, length, and athleticism that fits perfectly in today’s NBA, while Jones is one of the league’s most underrated defenders, capable of guarding multiple positions and disrupting opposing offenses night in and night out. With both under contract for the foreseeable future at manageable numbers, the Pelicans have the luxury of patience.
So where does that leave New Orleans heading into the deadline? In a position of strength, surprisingly. Despite the record, they’ve got a pair of rookies who look like long-term building blocks, valuable role players under control, and no real urgency to make a move just for the sake of it.
If the right deal comes along, sure, they’ll listen. But make no mistake: the Pelicans are thinking long-term. And based on what Queen and Fears are already showing, the future in New Orleans might be a lot brighter than their record suggests.