Why Joe Dumars can’t rebuild around Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson

The temptation to tear it all down is understandable for a new front office that inherits a roster stuck in between Zion WilliamsonInjury timelines, expectations to win, and the unforgiving environment of the NBA. However, a complete demolition focused solely on Trey Murphy III is neither realistic nor advisable for Stuck New Orleans Pelicans. The idea of ​​stripping down to the studs to rebuild solely around 25-year-olds is a road fraught with competitive and logistical pitfalls. Strategic retooling, rather than fundamental reconstruction, is a more sustainable route to a top-six award.

The key issue is the potential ceiling. While Murphy III developed into a superior floor-spacing wing and occasionally disruptive defender, league history is clear on the archetype. Players with multiple All-Star and All-NBA honors under the age of 25 have often faltered as the eventual number one option for a contender. Murphy III’s excellence is complementarya key piece of the championship puzzle, but not its centerpiece. Doing away with him would likely yield another NBA Play-In level team.

Being too good for top draft lottery odds but lacking top talent to challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs is a story fans know well. However, this is not a list to be destroyed. David Griffin’s front office made mistakes, but it also amassed enough talent and contract flexibility that Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver could pivot instead of detonate. Regardless of how their summer trades panned out, there’s still a way to make things work with the current core. The Pelicans practically have to consider the disadvantage reasonable offers for Zion Williamson.

Trading Zion now would be about risk mitigation, not a franchise reset package. The same goes for Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray, whose value has been limited by inconsistent play and looming contract decisions. That reality alone makes a full rebuild impractical. New Orleans would likely emerge from such a process with less elite assets than it currently has, while burning prime developmental years for Murphy III and Derrick Quinn in the process.

More importantly, the Pelicans don’t need to rebuild to find a way forward. Williamson looks healthy and dominant when available. The queen is ahead of schedule. Murphy III is enjoying a career year. The Pelicans still possess enough salary cap space and capital to pursue a bitter All-Star like Ja Morant or LaMelo Ball. Shedding the excess on needed salary to completely reshape the narrative is worth the gamble, even if it’s for Cam Thomas rather than Lauri Markkanen.

The Pelicans are planning for next season

There is a clear and viable way to construct a contender with Murphy III as the second-best player, even if Williamson ends up not being part of the long-term picture. Murphy III’s shooting, length and versatility on defense are ideally suited to complement the dynamic main creator. Ja Morant, Zach LaVine, Cam Thomas and other perimeter shooters would all fit seamlessly into the starting lineup, perhaps more naturally than Williamson’s space-taking, non-shooting interior game.

The simplest way forward lies in retooling around the Williamson-Murphy tandem. Finding another postseason-caliber starter and bench contributor that fits better than Poole and Murray is a priority. The longer they stay on the roster, the further this rebuild is pushed into an uncertain future. New Orleans can’t afford that headache. Veterans chasing contract extensions inevitably take away minutes and usage from rookies.

Queen and Jeremiah Fears show promise as building blocks, but they are raw starters who need years to mature. They should be the backbone of an energetic bench next season. Still, getting a handful of second-round picks and expiring contracts for Poole and Murray is better than holding on to players who don’t fit the timeline. The Pelicans are being proactive in finding new homes for both veterans instead of waiting for the impact to wear off. Someone else can buy their contracts that expire next season; Joe Dumars needs help now.

Herb Jones is supposedly untouchable, so the All-Defense dynamo is slotted at third on the wing. Saddik Bey should be worth several second-round picks NBA trade deadlinebut if it is not, it can be placed in the role of the bench. The 26-year-old has done well in Borrego’s system so far. The Pelicans need another ball-handling guard, if not Murray or Ja Morant, and a starter-level center. Ives Missy contributes but is still learning the concepts.

The calculation is clear. The core of the new star acquisition, Murphy III, Williamson and the developed Queen, offers a higher trajectory than anything rebuilt solely around Murphy III. Any return on current assets would not be enough to build a true pillar around the young, fringe, not-quite-there All-Star. Joe Dumars would eventually have to sell Murphy III as well. Instead, they must use expiring contracts, consolidate role players and spend future capital to acquire the primary engine missing from their roster.