New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi is reportedly on the NBA trade market, according to SportsNet’s Michael Grange.
“I have also heard from multiple sources that second-year centre Yves Missi is available from New Orleans as the Pelicans look to focus their rebuild around rookie big Derik Queen,” Grange, who covers the Toronto Raptors, wrote, “although the Raptors' interest in the 21-year-old taken 21st in the 2024 draft is unclear.”
Missi was a 2024-25 Kia NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection. In December 2024, he became the first New Orleans Pelican to win Western Conference Rookie of the Month since Zion Williamson did in February 2020.
This season, Missi has started seven of the 37 games he’s played in. He’s averaging 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. For context, last season, Missi started in 67 of 73 games he played, and averaged 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
Coming into the season, Missi was projected to back up center Kevon Looney. However, Looney has now found his way out of the rotation, and Derik Queen has started 32 games for the team. Queen has averaged 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
NBA insider Chris Haynes previously reported the Pelicans have reportedly made plans to keep: Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Jeremiah Fears and Queen.
The Pelicans have the worst record in the league at 10-35, but do not own a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.