With the NBA trade deadline approaching, every front office is putting together plans for how it wants to approach the league's most hectic time of year. For the New Orleans Pelicans, a report from Chris [Haynes made their stance clear](https://pelicandebrief.com/joe-dumars-is-trying-to-sink-the-pelicans-if-latest-report-is-true) on several of their big-name players, citing Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen all as untouchable.
Someone the Pelicans front office should consider adding to that list of untouchables is 21-year-old big man Yves Missi, who is playing the best basketball of his young career over the team's last 10 games.
Persistence, hustle and a contrast
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Coming into the 2025-26 season, I felt Missi was someone the front office viewed as expendable and someone I often questioned long-term fit with this team. When the regime that drafted him in 2024 was dismissed, and a new front office took over, their first major move was trading up in the 2025 draft for another big man. Things didn't look good for him.
Factoring in poor play in the Summer League and a coaching staff that saw interim head coach James Borrego lean on Karlo Matković as the team's backup center, it felt like Missi's fate in New Orleans had been sealed. However, Missi didn't throw in the towel—his body language didn't change on the bench. He was still cheering on his team and waiting for his next chance.
His chance to reestablish himself came on December 23rd against Cleveland, and from the moment he stepped on the court, the energy and hustle Missi played with was unmatched. Despite the Pels losing by 23 points, he led the team in plus-minus that night, and they nearly won the minutes Missi was on the court. That night perfectly captured the impact he’s made over the team’s last 10 games.
Right now, I truly believe Missi is playing the best basketball of his career as he's started to really carve out a role as an energy-shifting backup big. While his averages over this 10-game stretch on paper don't look better than the ones from his rookie season, they are much more impactful. Missi is averaging 5.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in just 18 minutes per game during this 10-game sample.
Every game, it feels like Missi has some sort of massive play almost immediately after subbing in, whether that be finishing a lob in transition or a highlight block.
Missi also creates a nice contrast from what the Pelicans get from their usual starting center, Derik Queen. DQ is a finesse big man who looks to create scoring chances for others and can be trusted to run the team offense, which gives a nice contrast, as when Missi comes in, it's all about hustling and finishing plays.
To start the season, I would and did tell you the Pelicans should absolutely be shopping Yves Missi, as it was unclear what his long-term fit and role with the franchise would be. That said, his play as of late is a clear indicator he should remain on this team following the February 5th deadline, as at minimum he can be a high-level energy big off the bench.