The rumor mill had been spinning in New Orleans’ direction for weeks, but insiders are now firmly putting the brakes on any notion that the Pelicans are coming for Ja Morant.
Despite being floated as a potential trade destination for the Memphis Grizzlies’ very available star guard, The Stein Line reports that New Orleans has no plans to pursue Morant, and the reasoning is straightforward.
The Pelicans drafted Jeremiah Fears in last year’s draft specifically to be their point guard of the future, and the organization has no intention of abandoning that vision before it even gets off the ground.
“They drafted Jeremiah Fears this time last year to be their point guard of the future,” one source told The Stein Line. “Thus they are not plotting any sort of run at Morant.”
It’s a clear and decisive message from a franchise that has spent recent years navigating roster uncertainty and injury chaos. Committing significant assets to an injury-prone, high-profile guard like Morant, however talented, would directly contradict the organizational rebuilding blueprint they’ve carefully laid out around Fears.
That doesn’t mean New Orleans is sitting idle, however. The Pelicans continue to field significant external trade interest in wing players Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, though league sources indicate the organization is setting a steep price for both. In each case, New Orleans is reportedly demanding multiple first-round draft picks before even entertaining serious discussions.
Adding another layer of intrigue, the Pelicans are actively trying to acquire a first-round pick, ideally a lottery selection, before Wednesday’s draft. Currently holding only the No. 58 pick in the second round, New Orleans is motivated to move up and add meaningful draft capital to their rebuild.
For Morant, the search for a new home continues. New Orleans, it seems, was never really in the running.
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