There has been much speculation about the future of the New Orleans Pelicans beyond this season. With early injuries wiping out their entire 2024-25 NBA campaign, the franchise was left in turmoil, forcing them to rethink both their short- and long-term plans.
After five years of frustrating setbacks, the Pelicans finally ended the Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram duo this season, sending Ingram to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown Jr., a top-four protected 2026 first-round pick from the Indiana Pacers, and a 2031 second-round pick. While this marked a step forward, it offered little insight into New Orleans’ overall vision for the future, aside from confirming that Ingram was no longer part of their plans.
This season has been a disaster for the Pelicans, but it has given the organization something they haven’t had in years: flexibility. Moving forward, they could keep building around Zion Williamson, shift their focus to emerging star Trey Murphy III, or reset the roster around their 2025 lottery pick, ideally landing in the top four. Many expected New Orleans to make a decisive move at the trade deadline, but the team seemingly chose to delay major decisions until the offseason. However, a recent report has shed some light on the Pelicans’ priorities for the future.
The New Orleans Pelicans have chosen their wings of the future
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Pelicans had an alternative trade offer from the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram. In the end, they chose the deal that brought in two veteran contracts and draft assets, but they passed on an opportunity that could have drastically reshaped the franchise.
According to Scotto, the Raptors were willing to trade RJ Barrett to the Pelicans, but New Orleans opted for Olynyk and Brown Jr.’s expiring contracts instead, believing they already had their wings of the future in place.
“With Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones already solidified on the wing, the Pelicans didn’t see Barrett as the right fit for their roster, as acquiring him would have required involving a third team, according to sources.”
This aligns with an earlier report stating that Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones were considered untouchable by the Pelicans, along with rookie standout Yves Missi and second-year sharpshooter Jordan Hawkins. If true, it suggests that New Orleans is confident in their wing duo of Murphy and Jones, making it unlikely they’ll target a wing with their 2025 lottery pick. This is notable given that two of the top prospects in the class, Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecomb, are both projected as NBA wings.
Another key factor is Barrett’s history with Zion, as the two were teammates at Duke and developed a close bond. It’s intriguing to wonder whether Executive Vice President David Griffin and the Pelicans’ front office consulted Williamson about the chance to reunite with his former running mate—and if they did, how he reacted. If they didn’t involve him in the discussion at all, it could be yet another indication that Zion’s future in New Orleans is uncertain.
