Pelicans leave rivals confused with trade deadline strategy

With NBA trade deadline one day on Thursday, February 5, rival executives across the league remain baffled by the New Orleans Pelicans’ approachwhose apparent reluctance to engage in meaningful trade discussions has drawn widespread attention.

Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported Tuesday that multiple teams are struggling to understand New Orleans’ strategy, especially given the level of interest in its two most valuable wings.

“Teams around the NBA have been extremely confused by the Pelicans’ approach to this trade season, especially since they never considered any offers coming their way.” Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones“Both players have been heavily pursued by several playoff-contending teams, and sources said NOLA received offers that included multiple first-round picks for Murphy and Jones.”

According to Siegel, New Orleans appears willing to maintain its asking prices at the deadline, even if it results in no trades.

“There’s a very real possibility that the Pelicans stick to their asking prices for all of their players by Thursday’s deadline and don’t make any moves,” Siegel added, calling such an outcome “extremely confusing for a bottom-of-the-table team with few players who have real trade value.”

The Pelicans currently sit in 14th place in the Western Conference standings after a two-game losing streak, which was capped by a 102-95 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Despite their position, league perception suggests New Orleans remains committed to its current core.

Murphy, 25, is in the midst of a career season after breaking out a year ago. He is averaging 21.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range. He logged 35.8 minutes per game in 48 appearances, and proved to be one of the league’s most versatile shooting wings.

The Pelicans are refusing to turn around despite mounting pressure at the trade deadline

Jones, 27, has continued to provide elite defensive value while posting more modest offensive numbers. He is averaging 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 32 percent from three in 29 games in 28.5 minutes per game.

Additional skepticism about the Pelicans’ direction emerged Tuesday in a commentary by Hardwood Parochism’s Matt Moore, who it questions logic behavior of veterans in the first years during extended reconstruction. Moore characterized the franchise as overly optimistic, noting that New Orleans traded an unprotected first-round pick last summer in a deal that brought in rookie Derrick Quinn, while continuing to indicate confidence in his existing roster.

Moore pointed to the Pelicans’ current record and efficiency metrics, arguing that the team is several years away from legitimate contention. He suggested that keeping Murphy and Jones around that time frame risks diminishing their trade value while delaying a more definitive organizational reset.

Despite the criticism, league sources cited by Moore indicated the Pelicans believe they have a playoff-caliber roster that has yet to be unlocked through coaching and development. That belief appears to be driving their reluctance to move Murphy or Jones, even with significant interest.

As Thursday’s deadline approaches, New Orleans remains one of the league’s biggest wild cards. Whether the Pelicans ultimately fall short or fall short, their handling of Murphy and Jones has already left rivals seeking clarity on the franchise’s long-term vision.