The New Orleans Pelicans had designs on competing for a playoff spot this season, but are believed to be preparing to a pivot to build around Jeremiah Fears and Deriq Queen where they listen on trade offers on Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones. Because Williamson has struggled to consistently be healthy enough to play, he is considered to have negative trade value. But Murphy and Jones would be two highly coveted wings on the trade market if the Pelicans do indeed listen to offers ahead of the February 5th NBA trade deadline.
“You can be rest assured the Pelicans will be listening on trade offers for (Williamson),” said Jake Fischer on Thursday’s Bleacher Report stream. “And there are definitely teams that have told me as recently as today that New Orleans is now starting to listen and at least show some willingness to listen on Herb Jones and Trey Murphy as well.
“Those guys 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.”
Jones signed a three-year, $68 million contract extension with the Pelicans in July and holds a player option for the 2029-30 season. Murphy and the Pelicans signed a four-year, $112 million contract extension in October 2024 that runs until the 2029 offseason. Williamson is signed through 2028, but his contract could be voided if certain conditions are not met.
“The Pelicans are going to hold a high asking price and are going to need multiple first round picks to move on from either of those guys,” added Fischer. “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.”
The Pelicans do not own their 2026 first round pick as part of the Queen trade with the Atlanta Hawks on draft night.