The Pelicans had a real shot at swinging big for Jaylen Brown, and instead they watched the opportunity disappear when the 76ers moved in.
Brown ended up in Philadelphia after Boston dealt him for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks. The return was startling enough on its own: a 36-year-old forward and draft capital that hardly matches the value of a player who finished top-10 in the MVP race and helped push the Celtics to a 2 seed last season.
For New Orleans, that’s the sting. The Pelicans had shown interest in Brown before the NBA Draft, and the price Boston accepted from Philly looks like the kind of deal New Orleans could have beaten.
A package built around Trey Murphy III and one first-round pick would have been more valuable than what Boston actually took. Even if the Pelicans had to include Yves Missi, it still would have been worth it.
Brown just finished a 56-win season with Boston, putting up 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.4 stocks per game. He also proved on the biggest stage that he can be the top option on a contender, winning Finals MVP in the 2024 NBA Finals.
That’s why this feels so significant for the Pelicans. Brown wasn’t just another star name; he was the kind of No. 1 scorer New Orleans has never really had. He could have given the franchise a true centerpiece, someone capable of lifting the whole operation instead of leaving it stuck in the same middle ground it has occupied for most of its existence.
Instead, the Pelicans made one move: re-signing a 37-year-old DeAndre Jordan to be a glorified assistant coach.
If there was any doubt about whether New Orleans should be thinking bigger with this roster, this should have answered it. Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver missed a chance that could have changed the direction of the team, and the current vision built around Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Dejounte Murray looks a lot more fragile without Brown in the mix.
Now the Pelicans are left staring at another season of the same kind of basketball that has been failing them for nearly a decade.
In Other News...
Pelicans Lose A Key Frontcourt Target As Pressure Builds Fast
Mitchell Robinson came off the board quickly, and that leaves the Pelicans with one less frontcourt name to circle as the offseason market keeps moving. New Orleans had viewed Robinson as a possible target, but the center is no longer available, and the timing only adds to the sense that the team has to keep working through its options rather than waiting for the perfect fit to emerge.
For a roster still looking to sort out the middle of the floor, the remaining possibilities now matter more. Andre Drummond and Moussa Cisse are among the center choices still mentioned for New Orleans, and the challenge is no longer just identifying help, but finding the right move before the board tightens any further. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans May Be Eyeing The Exact Wing This Roster Still Lacks
After adding DeAndre Jordan, the Pelicans are in the familiar summer spot where the margins matter as much as the marquee names. There are only so many roster spots left, and not much cap room to work with, so any move for a wing has to fit both the basketball need and the financial reality. That is why a defensive-minded option like former Portland forward Matisse Thybulle has started to make sense in the background, especially for a team still looking for more length and activity on the perimeter.
Thybulle brings the kind of wing defense New Orleans could use, and his shooting has improved enough to keep him in the conversation as a short-term addition. The question is whether the Pelicans can actually create the space to make a run at him, and how much they are willing to invest in a player whose recent injury history has left plenty of teams cautious. For now, it looks like one of those situations where the fit is obvious, but the path to a deal is still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Murphy III Just Became The Pelicans Most Dangerous Trade Decision
Jaylen Brown landing with the 76ers has only sharpened the spotlight on Trey Murphy III, and not just because he is the kind of wing every contender wants. The move has amplified his value around the Eastern Conference, where the market for versatile scoring and two-way length is always thin, and it has put the Pelicans in the middle of a trade conversation they did not create but now have to monitor closely.
Boston is suddenly better positioned to enter the chase after adding fresh draft capital in the Brown deal, and the Celtics now look like one of several East teams that could try to make a serious push. Philadelphia, Toronto, New York and Detroit are also part of the conversation, which only underscores how complicated Murphys market could become for New Orleans if the bidding starts to build. [Read more 🡒]