New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans rejected multiple trade attempts by the New York Knicks to acquire center Yves Missi after the Knicks lost Mitchell Robinson to the Boston Celtics. The Pelicans view Missi as a key core player and have declared him unavailable for trade. Missi, a 22-year-old rookie, was drafted by New Orleans in 2024 and is entering his third NBA season.

The New Orleans Pelicans declined the $8M team option on Kevon Looney's contract, making the three-time NBA champion an unrestricted free agent. The move leaves Yves Missi as the Pelicans' only true center, prompting the team to seek a center via free agency or trade.

The New Orleans Pelicans are preparing for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas while trade speculation continues regarding forward Trey Murphy III. The team has not made significant free-agent moves and remains focused on potential trades for Murphy, with analyst Jake Madison suggesting they may need to lower their asking price to secure a deal.

The New Orleans Pelicans have exercised a third-year option on forward/center Karlo Matković, keeping him with the team for another season. Matković, drafted 52nd overall in 2022, averages 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game over 104 games, contributing to the team's frontcourt depth.

The New Orleans Pelicans lack a first-round draft pick but may be active on draft night through trades. They are linked to potential deals involving star players like Boston's Jaylen Brown or Atlanta's No. 8 pick, while also fielding aggressive offers for Trey Murphy and Herb Jones. The team's focus remains on developing Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen as core players.