The Pelicans are at a point where standing still no longer makes much sense. With Jamahl Mosley starting his tenure, Jeremiah Fears arriving as a possible centerpiece, and new pieces like Derik Queen, Saddiq Bey, and Bennedict Mathurin giving New Orleans more directions to explore, the franchise has to make harder calls about who belongs in its next version.
That puts Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, and Zion Williamson squarely in the middle of the conversation.
Jones has already given New Orleans far more than anyone should have expected from the 35th pick in the 2021 draft. He became a starter as a rookie and later earned First Team All-Defensive honors in 2024. His anticipation, versatility, and willingness to take on the toughest defensive matchups made him the standard on that end for a team that has too often fallen short around him.
But the fit is complicated now. Shoulder surgery ended his 2024-25 season after just 20 games, and last season he played 56 games while shooting 38.3% from the floor and 30.9% from three. That kind of offensive dip matters on a roster that already lacks reliable spacing.
At 28, Jones could still spend key prime years helping New Orleans develop its next group. Or he could be used to bring back young talent or draft capital from a contender that sees his defense as a playoff weapon. His shooting and recent availability will shape the market, but the Pelicans should be willing to hear those offers out.
Murphy is a different kind of case, and arguably the hardest one to sort through. On a rebuilding roster, his game actually fits. He has gone from reserve shooter to a wing who averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists last season, and he did it while hitting 37.9% from deep with the volume and attention that make that kind of spacing matter.
He also has the kind of age, size, and shooting that can make him the most valuable trade chip on the board. That’s exactly why moving him would hurt. Bey and Mathurin can score, but neither replaces what Murphy brings from beyond the arc.
The injury history is part of the equation, too. A left meniscus surgery cut into his 2023-24 season, and a right shoulder injury ended his 2024-25 campaign. He played 66 games last season after appearing in 53 the year before.
Even so, if New Orleans is serious about finding a better long-term foundation, Murphy could be the piece that returns the biggest package. That is the tension here: he should take the strongest offer to pry loose, and a rebuild still needs good players.
Williamson is the most familiar name and the most complicated one. He enters his eighth season with two All-Star selections and enough brilliant stretches to explain why the Pelicans have stayed patient this long. He averaged 27 points on better than 60% shooting in 2020-21, and his 40-point night against the Lakers in the 2024 play-in showed the kind of stage he can still seize.
Then the hamstring injury ended that game, and seven seasons into his career, he still has not played in an NBA playoff game.
The health record is impossible to ignore. Knee, foot, and hamstring issues have repeatedly interrupted his availability, and a foot injury wiped out the entire 2021-22 season. His 62 appearances last season were a step forward, but they do not make the uncertainty disappear.
Queen’s presence gives New Orleans another interior creator to develop, and Fears creates a reason to rethink who should be driving the offense. Neither one guarantees the answer, but both deserve a chance to shape what comes next.
If Williamson’s market is shaped by his health, the Pelicans may have to accept a return that reflects where he stands now more than where the franchise hoped he would take them. Mosley is beginning a new chapter, and the roster needs to match that reality.
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Pelicans Already Have A Derik Queen Question They Cant Ignore
Derik Queen gave the Pelicans something to think about in preseason, and not just because of the board work. Over four games, the rookie showed he can rebound at a high level, finishing with 8.8 per game, while also flashing enough playmaking to keep the ball moving. But the offensive output was uneven, with just 5.8 points a night on 33.3% shooting, the kind of start that leaves coaches weighing his strengths against the parts of his game that still need polish.
The passing numbers only added to the conversation, with Queen posting nine assists and nine turnovers as he tried to find his rhythm in Jamahl Mosleys system. At the same time, Jeremiah Fears continued to build momentum by leading New Orleans in preseason scoring and looking more comfortable in command of the offense, a contrast that sharpens the question around how Queen fits as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]