The New Orleans Pelicans have arrived at a crossroads that every front office dreads. One year after making one of the boldest moves of the 2025 NBA Draft, the organization finds itself paying a steep price for its ambition. Aggressively trading up to select Derik Queen was supposed to accelerate the franchise’s timeline. Instead, the move has become a cautionary tale about the dangers of mortgaging the future. Now, the 2026 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching and New Orleans sits without a first-round selection. As such, executive vice president Joe Dumars faces an uncomfortable reality. If the Pelicans are going to salvage their long-term outlook, another blockbuster may be unavoidable.
The 2025 gamble
The dust from the 2026 NBA Finals has barely settled, but the pressure inside the Pelicans’ front office has already reached a boiling point. Last summer, New Orleans made a franchise-altering decision. They struck a deal with the Atlanta Hawks to move up and select Derik Queen at No. 13 overall. At the time, the move was praised as an aggressive swing for talent. Queen provided flashes of offensive brilliance and showcased the polished low-post game that made him such a coveted prospect.
The problem, though, was the cost. In addition to surrendering the No. 23 pick, the Pelicans attached an unprotected 2026 first-round selection to complete the trade. Following a disastrous season, that pick ultimately landed at No. 8 overall. In a loaded draft class, losing a top-10 selection is devastating. Worse, it leaves New Orleans without a first-round pick altogether.
Season of regression
The Pelicans’ 2025-26 season quickly spiraled into disappointment. New Orleans stumbled to a 26-56 record. They finished near the bottom of the Western Conference after injuries and roster imbalance derailed any hopes of contention.
Offensively, the team struggled to establish a consistent identity. Yes, Queen flashed intriguing interior scoring ability. Still, the Pelicans lacked the dynamic perimeter creation necessary to maximize his skill set. Too often, possessions devolved into stagnant isolation basketball.
Defensively, the team fared little better. The Pelicans routinely surrendered dribble penetration and struggled to defend in transition. They just lacked the two-way wing depth necessary to compete in a conference overflowing with elite perimeter talent.
The arrival of new head coach Jamahl Mosley offers hope. However, Mosley cannot fix structural flaws without additional talent. That is why standing pat is no longer an option.
The necessary blockbuster
If New Orleans is serious about repairing its asset deficit, it must make an extraordinarily difficult decision. The Pelicans should aggressively explore trading Trey Murphy III in exchange for a premium lottery selection.
On the surface, moving Murphy feels counterintuitive. He has developed into one of the NBA’s premier complementary wings. Murphy hovers near 50-40-90 efficiency while providing elite floor spacing and defensive versatility. Every contender in basketball covets players with Murphy’s skill set.
That, though, is precisely why the Pelicans should consider moving him. His value has likely never been higher. New Orleans desperately needs to replenish its draft cupboard. Murphy represents the organization’s most attractive trade chip outside of its franchise cornerstones. Several asset-rich teams would eagerly part with a top-10 selection to acquire Murphy. For the Pelicans, that creates an opportunity too significant to ignore.
The ideal target
If New Orleans successfully re-enters the lottery, Tennessee forward Nate Ament should immediately become a primary target. Ament possesses the exact archetype modern NBA front offices prioritize. At 6-foot-10, he offers positional versatility, perimeter shooting, and defensive flexibility. More importantly, his timeline aligns perfectly with the long-term vision Mosley and Dumars are attempting to establish.
Ament would instantly provide the Pelicans with a high-upside perimeter creator capable of growing alongside Queen. His ability to handle the ball and stretch defenses would dramatically improve New Orleans’ spacing while alleviating pressure on the backcourt. Just as importantly, Ament’s length and defensive instincts fit the switch-heavy schemes Mosley has traditionally preferred. The Pelicans need a reset, and Ament could become the foundation of it.
Long-term gain
Moving Murphy will raise eyebrows. It would also raise the Pelicans’ ceiling. Remember that rebuilding franchises rarely progress without difficult choices. The Pelicans already sacrificed a valuable lottery pick in the Queen trade. Failing to respond aggressively risks compounding that mistake and condemning the franchise to years of mediocrity. History consistently shows that organizations willing to make painful decisions often position themselves for future success.
The Boston Celtics moved beloved veterans before building a champion. The Oklahoma City Thunder repeatedly prioritized long-term flexibility over short-term sentimentality. New Orleans must follow a similar blueprint. These Pelicans are right now operating from a position of weakness. They lack premium draft capital, finished near the bottom of the standings, and remain without a clear long-term identity. Simply running back the current roster would accomplish little. Trading Trey Murphy III is undoubtedly risky but also necessary.
Recapturing a top-10 pick allows New Orleans to inject elite talent into a roster desperately in need of youth, versatility, and upside. It gives Jamahl Mosley a modern foundation to build around and restores flexibility to an organization that sacrificed far too much one year ago.
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