The New Orleans Pelicans can cross Ja Morant off the list.
For weeks, his name had been tied to New Orleans in rumor after rumor, even as the team kept swatting down the speculation. On Monday afternoon, that whole conversation got shut down when the Portland Trail Blazers sent Morant to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis had been signaling for days that it wanted out of the Morant business, and the return from Portland showed just how far the Grizzlies were willing to go. The package was Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
At that price, it’s easy to see why some around the league would wonder whether New Orleans should have jumped in. Morant still has the kind of talent that can change a team’s ceiling if a fresh start unlocks him again. But the Pelicans were probably wise to stay put.
Morant’s production has slid. Three years ago, he was putting up 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game.
This past season, he dropped to 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists while shooting 41.0/23.5/89.7. He still had explosions - 40 points in one game, 35 in another - but the night-to-night consistency just wasn’t there.
New Orleans also has a veteran guard in Dejounte Murray who fits well enough already. Beyond a major swap involving the two, there wasn’t much of a clean fit for another guard in the mix. And with Jeremiah Fears viewed as the future of the franchise, adding a player on Morant’s level could have created problems later on.
There are arguments on both sides, but the call has been made for them. For Pelicans fans who were hoping to see Morant in New Orleans, the wait continues.
In Other News...
Pelicans May Finally Face A Painful Decision On Their Center Problem
The Pelicans have spent all offseason trying to sort out the center spot, and the front office may be staring at a roster-choice problem as much as a personnel one. New Orleans has a crowded forward group, and Saddiq Beys situation has become part of that conversation after a strong season that made him one of the more reliable pieces on the roster.
Bey is entering the final year of his contract, which puts the Pelicans in a tricky spot if his next deal is going to climb into a higher range. With Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson already part of the starting forward mix and Bey likely ticketed for a bench role, New Orleans has a real incentive to weigh whether moving him this offseason could help solve the bigger issue in the middle while also creating a cleaner path for Bey elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Fans Can Probably Cross One Blockbuster Rumor Off The List
The Jaylen Brown chatter that briefly linked New Orleans to Boston looks a lot less sturdy than it sounded on the surface. NBA insider Michael Scotto reported that teams mentioned around Brown, including the Pelicans, have been described as not being in the mix, and sources from New Orleans have pointed to little real appetite for making that kind of swing.
For Pelicans fans, that matters because it cuts through a rumor that could have sent the roster picture into a different direction fast. The talk appears to have been driven more from the Boston side than by any meaningful push from New Orleans, and there was also some outside buzz tying the Celtics to Trey Murphy, which only added fuel to the speculation. For now, though, the Pelicans sound more like a team being mentioned than a team actually shopping for the move. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Headed Into Free Agency With One Roster Problem Still Looming
The Pelicans head into free agency with most of their roster picture already sketched in, but one part of the puzzle still looks unsettled. New Orleans has 13 players under contract and two open spots, with a guard room that suddenly feels crowded around Jeremiah Fears, Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole and Jordan Hawkins. The wing rotation, at least on paper, looks like the cleaner strength of the roster, thanks to Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones Jr., Saddiq Bey, Micah Peavy and Bryce McGowens.
What happens next may come down to whether the Pelicans decide their backcourt is a long-term fit or a short-term logjam. Fears is viewed as part of the future, but there is enough movement potential around Poole, Hawkins and even Murray to make this one of the more interesting parts of the offseason. Meanwhile, the frontcourt still needs help with size and rebounding, and that need could shape how aggressively New Orleans tries to use its remaining flexibility. [Read more 🡒]