The New Orleans Pelicans find themselves in a bit of a pickle after missing out on a potential game-changer for their roster. Isaiah Stewart, the veteran center from the Detroit Pistons, was just snapped up by the Memphis Grizzlies for the bargain price of three second-round draft picks. It's a move that has left many Pelicans fans scratching their heads, wondering why their team didn't make a stronger push for Stewart.
The Pelicans' roster has a glaring vacancy at the center position. Yves Missi is currently their only true center, and while he holds promise for the future, he's still in the development phase. A seasoned player like Stewart could have been the perfect bridge for Missi and the team, offering a blend of experience and grit.
Standing at 6-foot-8, Stewart may not fit the traditional mold of a towering center, but he compensates with sheer physicality and toughness. He’s a player who doesn’t shy away from battling bigger opponents in the paint and excels in doing so. Last season, Stewart averaged 1.6 blocks in just 22 minutes per game, showcasing his shot-blocking prowess despite his height.
What makes Stewart a particularly good fit for the Pelicans is his toughness-a quality that Joe Dumars has openly prioritized. While Stewart might not stretch the floor with his shooting or dominate offensively, the Pelicans aren't in need of an All-Star. They need a reliable presence who can hold down the fort defensively and grab rebounds for 20 to 25 minutes a night.
The real kicker in this missed opportunity is the cost. The Grizzlies only had to give up three second-round picks, starting in 2029, to land Stewart.
For the level of production he brings, it seems like a steal. It's tough to fathom why the Pelicans couldn't muster a better offer.
Now, Dumars and Weaver are tasked with going back to the drawing board. There are other options out there-both in free agency and potential trades-but it's likely that these alternatives will come with a heftier price tag.
The Pelicans have already let one promising center slip through their fingers. Fans are hopeful that Dumars and Weaver are diligently working the phones to find a solution to their center dilemma. After all, in the fast-paced world of the NBA, standing still is not an option.
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 🡒]