The Suns’ search for a point guard keeps pulling Jalen Green into the conversation.
According to Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime, Phoenix has made Green available in trade talks and is still looking for help at the point. That lines up with reporting from Sam Amick of The Athletic, who said Friday there’s an “outside belief” the Suns would move Green for a proven lead guard. A team source told Amick, though, that Phoenix plans to stay patient with its current roster and won’t push any deals until later in the season.
John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 later added that the Suns could look into Green trades, but he expected that to happen “down the road.”
Green’s name has also surfaced in connection with Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray, who requested a trade out of New Orleans on Friday. Murray is believed to have “strong interest” in joining the Suns, although it remains unclear whether Phoenix feels the same way. Multiple reports have said the Suns and Pelicans have not yet opened discussions about the former All-Star.
League sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line that there’s an expectation Murray will be away from the Pelicans, at least “in the short term,” while the team works with his camp to find a deal. Stein added that it’s unclear how long the process will take for the 30-year-old. ESPN’s Shams Charania, who first broke the Murray news, had previously indicated Murray wouldn’t be playing for New Orleans going forward.
Elsewhere in the West, Tobias Harris still hasn’t made his season debut for the Spurs after signing as the team’s primary free-agent addition over the summer. Haynes reported that Harris’ left calf strain has lingered longer than expected, but the veteran forward is feeling better and should resume on-court work next week. League sources told Haynes that Harris could debut in early December if “everything goes as planned” during his ramp-up.
And in New Orleans, the Pelicans’ arena situation remains a major storyline. Stephanie Riegel of NOLA.com reported that owner Gayle Benson has pledged $150MM toward renovating the Smooth King Center and developing the surrounding area into an entertainment district, while state leaders are prepared to contribute $75MM.
Even so, the total renovation estimate sits at $420MM, leaving the Superdome Commission - described by Riegel as a “quasi-public agency with the ability to issue bonds” - to figure out how to cover the remaining $195MM. The commission is already more than $500MM in debt from earlier projects, and Riegel noted that the Pelicans’ lease runs through 2029, though the renovation is viewed as “critical to keeping the Pelicans in New Orleans.”
In Other News...
Pelicans Problems Are Getting Harder To Ignore After Another Blowout
The Pelicans rough start kept getting uglier Friday night in Memphis, where they were blown out 145-111 in an NBA Cup game and slipped to 0-2 in the event and 4-9 overall. With injuries already thinning the roster, New Orleans has been trying to patch together answers on the fly, but the results have been hard to miss as the losses keep piling up.
Defense has been the biggest problem, and the latest defeat only added to the sense that the issues are becoming deeper than a bad shooting night or a short-handed rotation. The timing also made the day feel heavier around the team, with more roster uncertainty hanging over a group that is already struggling to find any kind of rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Yves Missi Could Return As Pelicans Try To Stop Defensive Spiral
The Pelicans may finally be getting some help back in the middle, with Yves Missi listed as probable for the upcoming meeting with the Nuggets after missing time with a left knee contusion and bone bruise. He has been sidelined since Oct. 23, and his possible return comes at a time when New Orleans badly needs something to steady a defense that has slipped during a five-game losing streak.
Even with Missi trending back, the roster remains thin in other spots, leaving the Pelicans to patch together a lineup while trying to stop the slide. Several key contributors are still out, including a veteran guard who asked to be traded Friday, so any boost from Missi would arrive in a difficult spot rather than a clean reset. [Read more 🡒]
Jamal Murray Is Rolling As Nuggets Keep Juggling The Back End
The Pelicans are still trying to steady themselves through a rough stretch, and the backdrop around the roster has only gotten busier. With Dejounte Murray trade chatter hanging over the team, New Orleans is coming off a fifth straight loss, and the broader picture around the league has only added to the sense of uncertainty as coaches and front offices keep juggling pieces.
Jamahl Mosley has been working through rotation issues as players continue to move in and out of the lineup, leaving little room for continuity. For a team already searching for answers, the challenge is not just finding the right combinations night to night, but doing it while the standings keep slipping and the questions keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]