With the 2026 NBA trade deadline eight days away, the lack of player movement has surprised a ton of people, myself included. That being said, a lack of player movement should be something New Orleans Pelicans fans prepare themselves for ahead of next Thursday's deadline. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Pelicans are remaining attached to both Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones. But if they were to trade them, league sources tell Stein they would want a ‘Desmond Bane-type offer.’
Although the continued reports suggesting that the franchise doesn’t plan to move Zion Williamson are disappointing, the organization's approach towards the future of Murphy III and Jones is smart. Trading them would make little to no sense, with both of them fitting alongside Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, while also fitting their timeline.
Patience pays off
Often, when teams are having losing seasons, we see them feel pressured to panic and blow things up, without really caring about the assets they receive in return. While the Pelicans front office seems a little too unpanicked for a team that’s dead last in the West with a record of 12-37, it is benefiting them when it comes to Murphy III and Jones.
Keeping them allows players like Queen, Fears, Micah Peavy, and Yves Missi (for now) to get valuable reps with legit NBA players. Similar to my thoughts on Saddiq Bey and his future: having players who can make shots and be relied on offensively takes pressure off young players and helps their growth, while still benefiting themselves.
Look at the Brooklyn Nets, that’s a team doing things right.
They drafted a playmaking guard in Egor Dёmin, 8th overall in this past draft, and gave him an elite bucket getter to defer to in Michael Porter Jr. It’s helped both players. Dёmin is looking way ahead of schedule, and way more comfortable, and Porter Jr. should be an All-Star. This is the recipe New Orleans needs to follow.
On top of it benefiting development if the Pelicans do decide to move on eventually, the lack of urgency to trade either now is just going to drive up their trade value in the future. If Murphy III keeps up the same production of 21.9 points per game, teams will be blowing up the Pelicans phones during the offseason when teams have more financial flexibility.
Most of the trade-season rumors that have come out of New Orleans have enraged fans, whether it’s the front office's unwillingness to trade Zion Williamson or its desire to move on from Yves Missi. However, one thing they should be happy with is their firm stance on keeping both Trey Murphy and Herb Jones unless they are given a Godfather offer.