The NBA’s trade market is bracing for the annual seismic shift, and the New Orleans Pelicans are positioned to take advantage of a unique landscape. With the Boston Celtics eyeing Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks preparing for a rebuild under new coach Taylor Jenkins, a three‑team deal could reshape the league’s balance of power, but in a way few expect. By pairing Jaylen Brown and Zion Williamson, EVP Joe Dumars can finally deliver on the franchise's long overdue promise to the fans and create a true title contender in the Crescent City.
Ever since DeMarcus Cousins tore his Achilles on that voodoo'd free-throw attempt, the Pelicans have sold a cycle of high upside youth which delivered very little on those expectations. Still, Dumars seems determined to build a winner around Williamson. For most, having a 25-year-old two-time All-Star is a blessing. Unfortunately, most of the league now views the Zion Experience as a burden. That's why the trade market has been ‘tepid' at best for years.
So it's time to get bold, perhaps moreso than the Brandon Ingram or Cousins ideas. With the new NBA Draft lotto odds flattened to a pancake, the Pelicans can afford to be aggressive.
Pelicans: Jaylen Brown, Myles Turner
27th overall pick (BOS)
Bucks:Dejounte Murray, Jordan Hawkins, Jordan Poole
2027 unprotected first (NOP)
2028 swap rights (NOP)
2029 top-four protected (NOP)
2030 swap rights (best of MIL, NOP, BOS)
2031 unprotected (NOP)
2032 swap rights (BOS)
top-four protected 2033 (BOS)
Celtics: Giannis Antetokounpo, Saddiq Bey and/or Karlo Matkovic
58th overall (NOP)
2030 swap rights (best of Pelicans/Celtics)
2032 swap rights (NOP)
2030/2033 second round picks (NOP)
This deal allows every team to duck under the first apron with or without Saddiq Bey moving to the Celtics. All three ownership groups will love to hear that sales pitch knowing changes are inevitable.
Pelicans must push deal
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half at Smoothie King Center
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Zion Williamson and Jaylen Brown would get to play with Myles Turner, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones. Jamahl Mosley can build a good defense around that core, especially if the Pelicans can hold on to Saddiq Bey instead of sending his $6 million contract to the Celtics. The offense would be downright dominant. The Point Zion experiment would get to see a new day and New Orleans would definately be expected to make a top-six push with that starting five.
Sign a veteran ballhandler (Gabe Vincent, Coby White, Marcus Smart, DeAngleo Russell, Kevin Porter Jr….or just bring Jose Alvarado back!) willing to accept a backseat roll and call it an offseason. Yves Missi, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen get more time to develop, and will be under far less pressure as well. They'd sneak into the first round to snag Chris Cenac, Koa Peat, Jayden Quaintance, or Alex Karaban.
Add the handful of swaps ain' t that bad. The Pelicans would still have picks in those drafts and may not even have to swap spots at all, if everything goes well. With a few shrewd moves New Orleans could even duck the luxury tax yet again next season. However, that'd leave Mosley with a thin, top-heavy roster supported by rookie contracts, a mid-level exception rotational piece, and veteran minimums.
Worry about that later. Fill the Smoothie King Center to the rafters by selling the hope now. This is the one move fans will actually buy up before Opening Night. Bringing in Brown now would move the needle in ways that Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday, and CJ McCollum never could for Williamson or former EVP David Griffin.
Why Bucks should bite
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is guarded by Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum.
Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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If the Bucks determine they cannot build another title contender around Antetokounmpo, and all signs point that way, maximizing future flexibility becomes the priority. This offers that through seven (three swaps) first round draft picks, Jordan Hawkins, Dejounte Murray, and Jordan Poole. That's more than the Utah Jazz got in return for Rudy Gobert.
It's also the market value difference between an offensively limited Defensive Player of the Year candidate and an All-NBA MVP level talent that is arguable the best player on the planet in the right system. Well, at least until Victor Wembanyama reaching his full potential. Giannis still has few prime years left though, so why not chase a title with the Celtics? There is no realistic path back to the NBA Finals waiting around in Wisconsin.
Murray's stock will start rising as soon as the summer run videos start leaking out. The former All-Star did well in a limited return last season and is a highly respected locker room leader. Once executives see the former All-Star is all the way back from an Achielles tear, someone in need of a veteran point guard is going to start making calls. Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant definately need a table-setter if they want to ever get past the second round again, for example.
Poole is a great tank commander who would at least have an entertainment factor to sell. Maybe some of those championship traits start to shine more often now that Poole has been through the humbling journeyman experience. Perhaps the Bucks would keep Hawkins, who would be in line for a relatively cheap contract extension. Either way, the Bucks can help rehab their value before flipping them at the trade deadline.
Murray might fetch a useful young player, expiring salary, and a first round pick. Hawkins and Poole's values top out at a top-14 protected pick if not just multiple seconds and salary filler. Still, the seven draft picks, rebuilding clarity, and financial flexibility are the goldmines for Milwaukee, especially since they come from New Orleans and not Boston.
Celtics pull off coup
Brad Stevens would not be able to wipe away the sly grin if the Celtics can get Giannis using picks from the Pelicans. Sure, it'll cost Jaylen Brown too but that headache is starting to grow into a migraine. Boston's drama did not matter so much when they were winning titles. Now that they've been exposed a bit, it's time to bite the bullet. Thankfully, they'll be dealing with some folks hanging out near Bourbon Street, and all they want is a star package to sell fans along with a 2026 first round pick.
Beantown has to consider this a bargain deal. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard would terrorize the East. The Celtics would still have some draft capital flexibility so Nikola Vucevic ($21m) and Sam Hauser ($10m) could be moved for better fitting pieces. They could also take a late second round flyer on Jaron Pierre, a Morant-Brown hybrid microwave scorer who can set the table for others.
The Celtics are not the only team hosting the New Orleans native for pre-draft workouts. The Pelicans, Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards all seem interested. Pierre played SMU, so the Dallas Mavericks have all the details as well. That cheap contract will come in handy for a franchise trying to duck back under the luxury tax aprons. Stevens might as well snag the late-round steal of the draft.
There is even enough structural flexibility for additional teams to become involved. The Memphis Grizzlies, for example, could theoretically enter negotiations if they decide to pivot from Ja Morant, redistributing some of the veteran contracts and draft compensation. They could put GG Jackson and Santi Aldama in the mix easily.
Deals of this magnitude are rare because they require every front office to solve a different problem simultaneously. The stars align here. For New Orleans, though, the solution is obvious. If Joe Dumars truly believes Zion Williamson can still be the centerpiece of a title contender, finding a way to pair him with Jaylen Brown may be the fastest route to building the superteam Pelicans fans can believe in.
The NBA’s trade market is bracing for the annual seismic shift, and the New Orleans Pelicans are positioned to take advantage of a unique landscape. With the Boston Celtics eyeing Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks preparing for a rebuild under new coach Taylor Jenkins, a three‑team deal could reshape the league’s balance of power, but in a way few expect.