When the 2025 offseason started, New Orleans Pelicans fans were left wondering what direction the new President of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars, would take this team. Many speculated a hard reset that would see Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy traded. Instead, Dumars decided to keep the core together and make moves to bring in depth, experience, and young talent, helping build the Pelicans into a real playoff contender.
The offseason proved to us that under Joe Dumars, the Pelicans’ goal is to make the playoffs and be a winning basketball team. This has led me to speculate that players like Jordan Hawkins and Yves Missi could become prime trade candidates during this season if they struggle to break out.
Despite both Hawkins and Missi being young and providing a skillset on paper that the Pelicans need, I don’t think they are ready enough to contribute as rotation pieces on a playoff team.
Sure, Hawkins has the potential to be a great knockdown shooter, but he has yet to really establish himself as a consistent threat from deep in the NBA. If he isn’t making an impact off the bench early into next season, the Pelicans should look to move on.