Kevin O’Connor’s latest 2025 mock draft for Yahoo Sports features a few interesting tidbits. Citing league sources, O’Connor writes that there are “no untouchables” on the Pelicans, who are gauging the trade value of every player on their roster.
O’Connor cautions that major roster changes in New Orleans may not be in the works, but at the very least the team seems open to listening to offers for core players and could decide to shake things up if an attractive opportunity presents itself.
Assuming it’s accurate, the news doesn’t come as a major surprise. The Pelicans are coming off disappointing, injury-plagued season in which they won just 21 games, leading to an overhaul in the front office. Former Pistons executive Joe Dumars now runs the basketball operations department, with Troy Weaver also in a prominent position.
Star forward Zion Williamson has been floated as a possible trade candidate, though an offseason deal is reportedly considered “very unlikely.” Trey Murphy, Herbert Jones and Yves Missi are among the other Pelicans who would likely receive significant interest on the market.
O’Connor also updated his 2025 big board, with several noteworthy differences compared to ESPN’s.
For instance, O’Connor is very high on Washington State wing Cedric Coward (No. 5), Stanford center Maxime Raynaud (No. 14), and North Carolina wing Drake Powell (No. 16), who are ranked 29th, 24th, and 31st, respectively, on ESPN’s list, respectively. O’Connor is also relatively lower on some prospects, including BYU’s Egor Demin (No. 22 vs. No. 11 on ESPN), Michigan’s Danny Wolf (No. 32 vs. No. 19) and French big man Joan Beringer (No. 34 vs. No. 15).
Shocking news after the extortion news broke
I wonder how she thinks she’s going to prove her allegations.
Now days with text messages and camera on phones there is a lot of evidence out there. Since she waited so long to bring it out in the open there will be doubt in her story so she better have evidence.
Subpoena his security guard and other employees that witnessed some of the stuff and see if they are willing to risk a purgery charge to protect him.
I would have Murphy and Messi termed untouchable.
Messi is nice but for basketball I think he is far from untouchable
@ Brabo
A 21 year old 7 footer that was close to putting up a double double as a rookie (in limited minutes) certainly should be untouchable. It doesn’t get much more cost effective than that on a rookie scale contract, next year with more minutes he’ll be producing an average of at least 12/10.
Keep Missi and Hawkins, trade everyone else for draft picks in the up coming draft. Maybe keep CJ and Kelly on expiring contracts plus are good veterans
Murray’s contract goes with Zion
But I do love Herbert Jones
Change the team name. Anything other than the Pelicans
Jordan changed the Hornets back to the Hornets when they were the Bobcats
Too bad they can’t be the Jazz again. It makes no sense in Utah, just like the Lakers makes no sense in LA. Once New Orleans landed on Pelicans, Charlotte wasted no time in going back to Hornets.
I don’t like how teams records carry over to the new team if bought out.
Example Seattle to OKC
I agree with Jazz and Minneapolis Lakers
Anything is better than the Pelicans unless destined to be a bottom feeder
Yep, all Pelicans do is swallow. It’s a bad team name.
I bet the Pelicans wished they traded Zion before his legal troubles came out. Now his value is so negative they would only get matching expiring contracts. Only a real desperate team will take a chance on him.
Nobody will touch him unless the league investigates and clears him. He is radioactive until he is cleared since its beyond just a suspension. If he did the alleged things than he was committing crimes making threats with a weapon, then were not talking about just a league suspension, but a jail sentence potentially.
They have till I believe July 10th to cut him and his entire contract save 20% but I dont know if the league will have made a determination by then.
they will not cut him unless they know he is going to jail which will not happen until a trial is over. Right now its a she vs he thing. Nobody is touching that contract unless its for another player with a real bad contract.
I doubt anyone takes it that isnt just instantly cutting him after the trade.
I dont think they would be considering these moves if they didnt think there was some likelihood that he did it, since they were projecting a different vibe just a week ago.
Im not sure what the breaking point on cutting him is, since I think they may have already been near it at times the last few years, but I would guess if any of these stories start being corroborated they cut him fast. They also may test him for Cocaina.
It’s just another reason why Zion doesn’t belong in L. Seems they know each other for awhile. Hasn’t a clue of what responsibility means. I am just so thankful Knicks didn’t get first pick. He will pay her off. This won’t end well.
@ChapmansV,
It’s a civil lawsuit, which is just her trying to get money. There’s no chance of him going to jail.
Most sexual assault cases happen in civil court. Law enforcement has historically done a terrible job investigating and bringing charges in criminal court for sexual assault cases.
If evidence is uncovered in the civil suit then the prosecutor from that jurisdiction has the ability to file charges. The statue of limitations on making threats of bodily harm with a loaded fire arm is much longer than this, so if a prosecutor decides later that there is evidence they will absolutely charge him.
Pretty sure R Kelly was sued first, and then charged, and now hes in prison.
Id gladly give up TeMann, Niang & #22 pick for Herb Jones & Jose Alvarado
Pretty sure you need to put more than a mediocre late first and dead money salary matching for Jones. Like he makes minimal money, and after the year he had health wise, why would you trade a guy on that good of a contract before letting him return to form and value?
He was worth multiple firsts at the start of last season keep dreaming on getting a player like that for the 22nd pick in a bad draft where after the first couple guys most of the depth just decided to return to college for NIL money.
Dead money? I’m not familiar with that term. TMann & Niang both very alive. Both the type of solid vet that can help NOP get back to respectability as well. I doubt there’s nore than a season or 2 of missed playoffs in their combined 15+ yr careers.
Also this is clearly not a bad draft lol. NOP gave up this pick as part of the Dejounte deal & I guarantee they’d love to have it back. Obv they wouldn’t love giving up Herb Jones but you already answered your own question when you mentioned how bad this season just was for him. He was hurt & largely ineffective when he did play. Pels have 2 young forwards that are better/younger/more expensive than him. He’s the guy who probably has the most value to other teams. These are all reasons they’d trade him. But I’d be just as happy to trade for Alvarado & Jordan Hawkins tbh.
Mann/Niang are salary matching dude come on. Nobody will give you pick value back for either of them.
NOP have no use for either if they are going full rebuild outside of moving them for more picks which they arent worth. Like maybe you get a second for Mann maybe…
This draft is Flagg and then a big drop, then Harper and a big drop. You would love to get a player any where near Amens skill at 3. So you have a draft where most analysts say 3-8 are all about the same value, and after that there are a bunch of guys around 12 you would love at 30 but hate in the lottery. On top of that a whole bunch of the 25-40 guys just went back to school. So while Cooper is amazing this isnt a very good draft with a rather weak lottery after 2.
Next year has the really poppin draft based on everything we know now with 3-5 players that would go at least 2 in this one.
He underperformed because he was hurt 3 games into the season and then hurt again as soon as he returned. No teams in any sports look to deal an asset at its absolute worst value. Like fans of other teams always want some team to just deal there distressed asset just before it rebounds, but they have no incentive to. Herb has 2 more seasons at below the MLE man you can easily see him being worth way way way more at this deadline on a 13M deal being one of the best wing defenders in the NBA, especially if he is shooting well from 3 again. He could easily net 3-4 picks at this deadline if he looks at all like the player he was the season before this.
Super young super cheap 3 and D wings who are premium on the D dont go for a mediocre first in the back 3rd and salary matching. If you think a deal like that happens I have some property on the moon to sell you…
Hawks don’t need to match salaries with Herb Jones, we have a huge trade exception, might even have 2. And we don’t want/need pick value back for them. We already have 2 1sts. Both Mann & Niang would have value to NOP. Mann would be the perfect complement to Hawkins at the 2. Niang is the perfect vet forward for them. He’s a knockdown 3pt shooter & like Mann brings the edge/confidence of a vet who’s used to winning. I agree neither would have value to NOP if they were tearing their roster down & rebuilding but that would clearly be a terrible move. They already have plenty of young talent. What would be the point of rebuilding just to waste time & add different young talent?
I got em drafting JFears from OU at #7 & HYang at 22. That plus this deal would give them a starting lineup of something like CJ/TMann/Trey/Zion/Missi with Fears/Hawkins/Brown/Niang/Yang off bench. If they’re able to talk CPaul into ending his pro career where it began then they could be looking at formidable team, esp if Dejounte returns around trade deadline.
Your analysis of this draft is just terrible lol. It’s weird how much you seem to love/value the idea of draft picks but then hate the actual guys that have to be drafted with those picks lol.
Herb Jones is neither super young or super cheap lol. And as much as we both like his game it’s clear that both NO & Atl have a pair of forwards that would start ahead of him. Like I said, I’m just as interested in getting Alvarado & Hawkins, esp if the cost is lower
If you are a rebuilding team at this point in the rebuild you dont want any vets making any money that you cant move for picks. Your not trying to be good if your tearing it down, your trying to get one of the crown jewel prospects in next years draft.
Mann and Niang are avg roleplayers on market value contracts. They are the definition of salary matching thats not worth anything much beyond not being bad money. Although I doubt NOP wants Mann on his extension for 3 more years at MLE+ money while rebuilding.
Why wouldnt they rebuild? Either your competing in which case why trade Jones for random s***, or your tearing it down and trading Jones/Murphy, and Dejount if he can return, plus try to just get CJ off your books. This team wasnt making the play in this season if they were healthy and now they have Dejount on a big deal not playing so they definitely shouldnt be thinking they can be a top 10 team in this west next year. Like if your not a top half team in this west, you should reset for the next two seasons if possible, since a couple years from now there should be more bad teams in the west.
My draft analysis is based on listening to every Game Theory podcast with Sam Vecinie, who I think is the best prospect analyzer in the NBA world. Also looking at the draft stuff from ESPN/Hollinger/KOC. These arent my opinions theyre theirs, and I trust that analysis way more than I trust you to tell me about this draft. I would give up all OKCs future picks for Flagg, but this isnt the best draft according to everyone who knows drafts for a living…
Herb is a mid 20s player making 28M over the next 2 years when the MLE would be like 34M. He is already recognized as a top 3 perimeter defender in the NBA when healthy, and shot over 40% from 3 his last healthy season. That player on that contract has insane surplus value. Its like Austin Reeves with LAL nobody thinks he was a top 20 player a couple years ago, but when he got signed for 4/54M he was one of the most valuable players in the NBA, because he was both good and wildly underpaid.
Herb is worth nearly as much as Trey Murphy with his recent health being the only reason its less.
Sounds like I need to go find this Sam guy and argue with him instead since he’s the one forming your opinions. I feel like it would be impossible for me to have such strong opinions on these guys as basketball players if I haven’t seen them play basketball. I would strongly advise you to start watching these youngsters if you want to be competent when you’re critical of them. If Sam’s podcast is calling this a 2player or 1player draft then they are talking crazy.
Pels shouldn’t rebuild bc they have a team that can compete. You think half the West should tank from day1 next season. That’s clearly ridiculous. Zion is good enough to literally be 1 of the best players in the world. If he’s healthy & Trey is healthy theyre def not tanking to start the season. But what I’m starting to realize is that you like Herb Jones a lot more than I do. And tbh he’s prob more valuable to NO than he is to us. Like I’ve said numerous times now I’d be just as interested in getting Hawkins/Alvarado or just Jose himself.
Dude I dont watch 10s of thousands of hours of college basketball. I watch none. Im not running a team WTF would I watch a ton of tape. Now Sam has had his last 4 co hosts hired into scouting depts by NBA teams. Not sure what your qualifications are, but Im pretty sure 30 teams would be offering him a job if he didnt live in Oz with his wife thats from there. Also he is as plugged in as possible with the staffs of all 30 teams so his opinions are based on what he is hearing from the actual parties involved as opposed to you who knows no people that work for any NBA teams FOs.
There are a lot of people who all get paid to evaluate talent who all disagree with you, and are good enough at prospect evaluation to make a living at it. You dont even have to take in much draft content to understand the consensus. When was the last draft that turned out way better or worse than the general consensus of its value?
Zion has avg 35 games a season out of 82 so that is not your #1 player in any league. Coming off 30 games played. There is a reason they dont make the playoffs in the Zion era. He also now has a new lawsuit and uncertainty over potential suspensions that have to at least be considered as a non zero chance. Trey is the big piece you move to start the rebuild.
Herb after the previous season looked like one of the most valuable players in the NBA by production/contract who was basically untouchable. He had a freak injury and if he shows he is still the player he was his value comes right back, and he is still 26 and pre prime. If someone wont pay you 80% of what he was worth a year ago you wait 6 months and trade him at the deadline when he is on a 13M contract every single contender can fit who is a 3 and D wing every single contender could use.
Sheesh you really like this Sam guy. Well the respect you feel for him is similar to the respect I have for actual high level basketball players. Idk where you got the 10s of thousands of hours # from lol but I guarantee that if you spend whatever time you listen to that guy’s podcast watching actual basketball instead, you will be a lot more informed when it comes to basketball. You say that you aren’t a NBA GM so why would you watch a ton of college/intl/youth/g-league basketball? Id say most people watch it because they love basketball. And it seems like if you have interest in being so critical of these guys that you’d have interest in watching them play if only to see how well your opinions match up with reality.
Sam Vecinie is one of the most respected analysts in the NBA world. He is the main draft content writer for the Athletic. The fact you dont know who he is shows how little you know about the draft. So why should we pay any attention to you thinking its deep and #22 is a valuable asset at all. Its barely better than a future 2nd since at least with those you get the super cheap contract instead of rookie scale.
There are maybe 150 prospects you have to watch and follow to really know the draft pool like a pro. Watching all the college games for all 150 prospects in a season is thousands of hours. On top of that your watching probably every game in March Madness, and a bunch of high school and AAU/International youth tape on the college prospects and new ones coming the next few years. On top of that there are a number of international players you need to follow in AUS and EU.
If you arent actually watching the players you dont know anything about the draft. So either you watch a ton of non NBA basketball, but somehow dont know who most of the biggest people in the industry are, or you dont know s*** about how deep this draft is. I dont watch non NBA BBall, but I do listen to pods about draft talent and check out the best peoples draft guides and big boards.
I care about reality. Reality is that most of these prospects wont amount to anything. I watch a ton of basketball both GSW whole season, and tons of other games when theres good ones between good teams. Just like reality in the NBA is that Herb Jones is worth way way more than you think he is. Im not into aggregators or rumors of all kinds of hypothetical trades that will never happen. I am curios about things that actually will happen that can reset the power structure of the league, or make GSW a better contender before Curry retires. Most people chatting bball or even writing about it dont know s*** and dont even understand the basics of the CBA or taxes and aprons. If you want to learn about actual XOs and real strategy check out Game Theory on Youtube where you see the breakdown videos of game actions, and places like Dunc’d on where the people really know their s***…
How can you say the Pels wouldn’t have made the play-in even if they were healthy? They literally made the play-in (& playoffs) the previous yr when they were only slightly healthier. When even reasonably healthy this is/was/is a playoff contender.
I didnt like the Dejount fit even before his season was utterly decimated with injuries.
They had no C to start the season.
I dont think CJ is still a starting calibre player.
The west is insane and even with Wemby a team similar in current talent the Spurs were still not in the playoffs when he got hurt.
I think the teams sports medicine dept isnt good since they have a lot of injuries over the last half decade so I dont trust Zion or the roster to stay healthy.
I really didnt like the BI fit.
Thought the team had a chance to be a play in team in most upside scenarios with a ton of miss the playoffs downside.
Haha. The 3 listed as most desirable to get a retuen on a trade.. Are the very 3 the team needs to keep. They are relatively underpaid and look to have potential to improve.
Many of the rest, dont look like favorable to improve. Imo.
Look at the Bulls though. You dont want to do a Coby White where you waste the cheap years because these “good” contracts are usually 3-4 seasons so you can easily waste the surplus value.
Your not getting what you were for White now that hes expiring. So can NOP return to competition with what they have? I dont think so certainly not this next season with Dejount missing most of the season. So will you have a contender the year after? I doubt it they havent been a contender when this roster was healthy. So if you keep those guys you may be starting to get good right when all of them get paid for real and are no longer on below market contracts. If they arent prepared to maximize the value of those deals they should flip them while theyre still super valuable. That doesnt even take into account its easier to make a deal happen while the contracts and matching are cheaper.
Rockets: Give you the #10 and Cam Whitmore for Trey Murphy
Or Jalen Green & Cam for Trey
GSW and like 12 other teams are offering more than the 10th pick in a 2 player draft and a draft faller who hasnt produced. I would expect Trey III to bring back 3-4 picks with some protections on 1 or 2.
Like your not going to get Trey for a much worse return than Avdija got before he broke out.
no one wants any of those guys lol what a horrible franchise smh
Stupid Davey the GSW would have Trey III as one of the top 5 targets this offseason.
Should have traded Zion when they had the chance.
That Roster is a mess.
They should change their name back to the Hornets to confuse everyone
I see CJ as a good mate for Cade. He is a vet shooter scorer. Who can keep doubles away from Cade. And is a career 20 pt scorer. Ivey is still yrs away to me. NO can use young talent…. Pelicans have to be all in on rebuild. They need to move on. Don’t know what’s going on with Zion now. So you can’t even move him for a long time now. Me I get rid of him anyway possible. Ive seen enough.
Ivey is a PG to me