Chris Dodson of ClutchPoints reported on Thursday that Zion Williamson is increasingly unlikely to be in the Pelicans‘ long-term plans, but the team has yet to have any meaningful trade talks regarding the oft-injured star forward, who is currently out with an adductor strain.
Williamson, who is on an unusual maximum-salary contract that features weigh-in checkpoints and guarantees based on games played, likely has minimal trade value due to his extensive injury history.
During Thursday’s live stream for Bleacher Report (YouTube link), NBA insider Jake Fischer said there’s an expectation that New Orleans will entertain offers for the former No. 1 overall pick — and he’s not the only Pelicans player that will apply to.
“You can rest assured that the Pelicans are going to be listening to trade offers for (Williamson),” Fischer said (hat tip to RealGM). “And there are definitely teams that believe, that have told me as recently as today, that New Orleans is now starting to listen and at least show some type of willingness to listen on guys like Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III as well.
“(Jones and Murphy) are going to have a lot of interest around the league. They’re both on very strong, long-term contracts that are considered relatively team-friendly. Under $30 million in average annual value, which is a big threshold in this current market.
“… But the Pelicans are going to hold a high asking price. And they are going to need multiple first-round picks to move on from either of those guys. That’s my understanding as of now. But right now, it is pretty clear that the Pelicans, with interim head coach James Borrego, are moving in a direction of a team built around Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, their two lottery picks from this draft.”
Dodson’s ClutchPoints colleague Brett Siegel wrote on Friday that the odds of a deal involving Jones have grown “exponentially” in recent months amid the Pelicans’ disastrous 3-20 start to the season. After signing a contract extension in July, Jones isn’t currently eligible to be traded, but that will restriction will lift on January 14, a few weeks before this season’s deadline.
Fischer is the first reporter we’ve seen state that New Orleans may be open to the possibility of moving Murphy — Dodson suggested the team views the 25-year-old wing as part of the team’s core rather than a trade chip. Murphy is in the first season of a four-year, $112MM rookie scale extension.
In the wake of multiple rumors surrounding the struggling Pelicans, Will Guillory of The Athletic hears from several sources that the team has not had any trade talks involving Murphy, Jones or Williamson (Twitter link). Obviously that stance could change down the line, but it’s worth noting nonetheless.
Murphy is playing and still growing. He is worth giving a few yrs. To see how far he can level up. While Fears and Queen become starters. Murray who is coming back in January is also worth waiting on. You can always move him next year. Fears can just learn from him.
Zion you have to move on from. He is only keeping this team down now. Once he starts playing well. You get the best deal you can for him. Time to move on from that mess. Queen is a great pick. Dumars should have protected that pick 1-6. So you get picks back in Zion trade.
Trey Murphy and Zion have the same age btw
Big Herb fan. Guy would seriously help a playoff team.
Indeed so but I think the general public is underestimating how much he would cost
He’s def multiple firsts and a good pre rfa player Or hang up the phone
I see a lotta fanbases including my own clamoring a pick a swap and expirings
Trey would be a good fit for Gsw but they’d have to net the 26 28 and 30 ( 1-20 ) pick imo before they even picked up the phone
Kuminga and pods as the salary filler
That 28 and 30 pick ( 1-20 ) unprotected are very good picks currently …, if they can somehow nab the 32 pick in there Which has to be unprotected by rule I don’t think Pelicans can get a better offer on the market if they indeed are willing to move Trey
Me personally I wouldn’t trade trey but that’s a lotta quality draft capital that’s hard to find these days on the block
Tough call for both Dumars and Dunleavy
For the right offer, I could see NOP benefitting from a trade of one of Murphy or Jones, but not both. Neither is really a guard (due to handle) or a big (due to frame), so SF is the best spot for their 3&D-ish skill sets to shine. But has to be a win-win, where a starter of similar age and talent comes back to them.
If basketball trades ever become popular again, I’d approach ORL about a deal centered on Murphy/Murray (once healthy) for Wagner and change (the latter is, IMO, an immense talent, but offensively duplicative with PB). I’m not going into the weeds on it because deals like that don’t really happen any longer.
Makes sense if your the new GM, coach or whatever that you tell everyone hey we plan to rebuild around the two rookies. It buys yourself the longest run. You don’t get results in the next 3 years you say we are still developing etc. You tell people your building with Zion Murray and Trey then all of a sudden your expected to get results a lot quicker.
In terms of potential way of going about it.
Really poor decision to give away your pick this year cause that’s currently top 5 with Atlanta. I’d be offer OKC Herb Jomes for Isiah Joe and the Jazz first round pick this year which is currently at about 10.
OKC don’t exactly need Joe with AC Dort Wallace and Wiggins all there. Herb gives OKC another elite defender and a bigger body more of a 3/4 than 2 like their other defenders.
Another idea would be Anthony Davis returning back to where he started in New Orleans and taking back Klay Thompson as well in order to get their first round pick this year and give them Dejounte, Poole, Bey and a couple seconds.
That leaves you then needing to shop Zion, let’s just say John Collin’s, Bogdanovic and a first for him.
Pelicans:
Fears Klay Trey AD Queen
Jose Joe Bogdanovic Collin’s Missi
Sure not much of an upgrade if at all on the current line up but you’re adding a top 10 pick thanks to OKC and the Jazz. You’re also getting a first from the Mavs and a first from the clippers.
AD and Queen make a really nice combo, AD is just a skilled big man who’s great at both ends of the floor he could teach Queen so much and help his game. Klay also brings a ton of championship experience to this young team. Collin’s gets a fresh chance to ball out before FA hopefully he finds his form again. His 3 and D game should pair well with Missi who is more of a paint presence and defender first. Joe gives you a go to sniper off the bench, Jose a sneaky good defender, Bogdanovic again experience.
I actually think short term a better side and long term better with the picks. Plus fans get to see AD return and set a bunch of franchise records to finish his career.