The NBA trade deadline is creeping closer, and front offices around the league are working the phones. In New Orleans, the Pelicans are drawing plenty of interest - but they’re not giving up their core pieces without a fight.
According to league sources, the team has rebuffed inquiries on forwards Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones, making it clear they’re not looking to break up that duo anytime soon. And frankly, that tracks.
Murphy and Jones have become foundational pieces on both ends of the floor - long, switchable defenders who bring versatility and spacing. New Orleans knows what they have.
But that doesn’t mean the Pels are standing pat entirely. Conversations with other teams suggest the franchise may be more open to moving some of its younger, less established talent - namely center Yves Missi and guard Jordan Hawkins.
Missi, who started 67 games as a rookie and logged nearly 27 minutes a night last season, has taken a step back in his sophomore campaign. With the addition of Derik Queen, Missi has slid down the depth chart, starting just seven games and averaging just over 18 minutes per contest.
Still, there’s real intrigue around the league about what he could become. He’s a mobile big with rim protection upside and a solid feel for the game - the kind of player who could thrive in the right system with consistent minutes.
The Pacers are among the teams that have reportedly kicked the tires on Missi, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more suitors emerge.
Jordan Hawkins, on the other hand, is having a tougher time finding his rhythm this season. The former lottery pick is averaging just 4.4 points in 14.2 minutes per game and shooting a cold 30.3% from deep - not ideal for a player whose calling card is supposed to be perimeter scoring.
Given those struggles, Hawkins likely isn’t commanding much value on the trade market right now. But he’s still young, and teams may view him as a low-risk, developmental flyer if the Pelicans are looking to clear a roster spot or package him in a larger deal.
As for the teams circling Murphy and Jones, there’s still some hope around the league that New Orleans could change its stance. But from all indications, that hope may be misplaced. The Pelicans have been firm in their messaging, and unless something dramatic shifts, it sounds like they’re keeping their core intact.
Around the West: Trade Winds and Playoff Positioning
Zooming out across the Western Conference, there are a few more storylines worth watching as we inch closer to the deadline.
In Houston, the Rockets have cooled off a bit after a red-hot 15-5 start. They've dropped four of their last six and are just 8-9 in their last 17 games.
But despite the recent dip, there’s no sense of panic in the front office. Context matters - 23 of their first 36 games were on the road, and that kind of schedule can wear on a young team.
Plus, there’s still a chance Fred VanVleet could return from his ACL injury in time for the playoffs, which would give Houston a major boost in the backcourt. Unless the slide gets significantly worse, don’t expect the Rockets to make a desperate move for another ball-handler.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have flipped the script in a big way. After stumbling out of the gate with a 6-21 record, L.A. has won 11 of its last 13 and is right back in the thick of the postseason race.
That turnaround has cooled trade chatter around James Harden and Ivica Zubac - two names that rival teams were watching closely earlier in the season. At this point, it looks like the Clippers are more likely to ride this momentum than shake things up.
Keep an eye on Phoenix and Portland as well. The Suns have quietly won nine of their last 12, and the Trail Blazers had won seven of eight before back-to-back losses to the Knicks and Warriors.
Both teams are generating buzz as potential “sneaky” buyers at the deadline - not necessarily in the market for a blockbuster, but in a position to make savvy moves. Each franchise has a handful of mid-tier contracts that could be used to match salaries in trades, giving them flexibility to get creative if the right opportunity presents itself.
With the deadline looming, the chessboard is set. Some teams are looking to make a splash.
Others are trying to fine-tune. And a few - like the Pelicans - are walking the line between developing young talent and protecting the core that’s already in place.
One thing’s for sure: the next few weeks are going to be interesting.