Caught in another injury-riddled season, the New Orleans Pelicans are in a frustrating position at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
With a 5-22 record, the Pelicans have become a team to watch as the NBA trade deadline approaches. And now, according to reports, franchise cornerstones Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have become more prominently discussed in trade rumors, sending ripples throughout the fanbase and the league.
Another Lost Season
Coming into the 2024-25 season, expectations were high. The Pelicans had revamped their roster by acquiring Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks and hoped to make a run to the upper third of the ultra-competitive West. Instead, injuries have derailed those plans. The team’s top six players: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Murray, Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones, have yet to be available for a single game together.
The result has been a dismal record that has left an increasingly despondent fanbase wondering what’s next.
New Orleans stands on the verge of making significant changes, by choice or necessity. With Ingram set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, his name is the centerpiece of trade rumors. While the front office seems willing to entertain offers for most of the roster, they’ve drawn a hard line in the sand on two rising stars: Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones.
Building Around Murphy and Jones
According to reports, the Pelicans have no intention of trading Murphy III or Jones. The front office drafted and developed both players and sees them as great complimentary pieces no matter who is on the roster around them. They’ve shown immense potential and consistency, making them crucial pieces for the team’s future.
Trey Murphy III has been a bright spot in an otherwise bleak season. The 24-year-old is averaging a career-high 18.2 points per game, along with 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists. His length, athleticism, ability to stretch the floor, and defensive versatility make him an attractive building block in today’s NBA.
Herb Jones, coming off his first NBA All-Defense team selection, has outplayed his status as a second-round selection. Averaging 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and nearly two steals per game, Jones is on an extremely affordable contract and has consistently improved the team’s chances of winning while on the court.
Whether it’s the Pelicans’ best 2-man, 3-man, 4-man, or 5-man lineups, Murphy and Jones are usually included.
The Zion Factor
One of the most surprising developments is that Zion Williamson, long considered the face of the franchise, is reportedly available in trade talks. Williamson’s talent is undeniable, he’s a two-time All-Star and a unique offensive force when healthy. However, that “when” has become the crux of the issue.
Zion’s health struggles have been a recurring theme since he entered the league. After missing the entirety of the 2021-22 season and playing just 29 games the next, Zion bounced back to play a career-high 70 games last season. However, he’s appeared in only six games this season. Reports of conditioning issues and frustrations within the organization from coaches and teammates have only added to the speculation.
A proposed trade involving Williamson heading to the Golden State Warriors has surfaced, with a package centered around Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, and Brandin Podziemski. The Warriors aren’t the only team linked to the former No. 1 pick. Of course, Zion’s availability and long-term reliability will be major factors for any potential suitors willing to take the risk on his upside.
The Case for Trading Ingram
Brandon Ingram’s situation isn’t as much about injuries as about timing. As the team’s leading scorer (22.8 ppg) and one of the few Pelicans who can generate his own offense, Ingram’s value is real. However, at the age of 27, and the Pelicans having yet to advance past the first round of the playoffs, his future in New Orleans is cloudy, at best. With free agency looming and the Pelicans seemingly far apart on extension talks, moving him before the deadline could prevent losing him for nothing.
Ingram has voiced frustrations with the team’s performance this season, emphasizing the need for consistency on both ends of the floor. However, Ingram has had his own issues with injuries since joining the Pelicans. He’s appeared in 60 or more games only three times in his five previous seasons, with a high of 64 last season.
For the Pelicans, trading Ingram could bring back valuable assets to build around their young core of Murphy, Jones, and rookie Yves Missi. Missi has quietly (and quickly) emerged as a key contributor, leading the team in rebounds (8.5) and blocks (1.2). He has six of the team’s 14 double-doubles, three more than any other player.
What’s Next?
The Pelicans have been mired in mediocrity for years, they haven’t won a playoff series since 2018 or been to the postseason in consecutive seasons since 2007-09. This season’s struggles might just be the tipping point. The front office faces some of its toughest decisions yet, balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term growth.
New Orleans currently has a 1% chance of reaching the playoffs. The Pelicans have to win 44 of their final 55 games. That would be a .800 winning percentage. No matter how healthy they get, or what trades they make, that’s just not very likely.
This season is done. Outside of player development and deciding who is going to stay and who’s leaving, in the front office, on the sidelines, and in the locker room.
Trading Ingram or Williamson would mean the franchise is finally ready to move in a new direction. The Pelicans have shown some desire to start building around Murphy, Jones, and Missi, and to some extent Dejounte Murray.
For fans, it’s a bittersweet moment. Though there are strong attachments to Ingram and Zion, change might be necessary to break the seemingly endless cycle of disappointment.
With 52 days remaining, and the trade deadline looming, the Pelicans will undoubtedly be a focal point of league-wide speculation. Whether they choose to move their stars or hold steady, one thing is certain: the decisions made in the coming weeks will shape the future of this franchise.
Stay tuned, Pelicans fans—things are about to get interesting.
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