Pelicans face critical offseason as Trey Murphy trade rumors test team’s direction

NEW ORLEANS (GCSEN) - The New Orleans Pelicans may not be able to afford a quiet offseason.

After hiring Jamahl Mosley as head coach, New Orleans is entering the summer with pressure to build a more disciplined, defensive-minded roster around Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and a young core that includes Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears.

Mosley was hired after five seasons with the Orlando Magic, where he led the franchise to three straight playoff appearances. The Pelicans are hoping his focus on accountability and defense can help reset a team still trying to find long-term stability.

Pelicans basketball operations chief Joe Dumars praised Mosley’s leadership, defensive approach and ability to develop young talent.

Read more: Jamahl Mosley aims to emphasize a ‘defense-first’ mentality for Pelicans

The next question is what kind of roster Mosley will inherit.

The Pelicans do not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft after previously moving the selection in a deal to land Queen. That could make free agency and trades even more important as Dumars works to reshape the roster without sacrificing more of the team’s future.

Read more: Pelicans currently possess only the No. 58 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft

That makes trades and free agency more important as Dumars and Troy Weaver decide whether to reshape the roster around a younger timeline or make moves aimed at getting the Pelicans back into the playoff picture next season.

Sports Illustrated reported the Pelicans are entering the offseason with roughly $196 million on the books for next season, putting them within range of the NBA’s first tax apron. New Orleans could create financial flexibility by moving on from lower-impact players or declining team options, including veteran center Kevon Looney and guard Jordan Hawkins.

Sports Illustrated also pointed to bigger questions involving guards Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray, who are both owed more than $30 million next season. The outlet said the fit between the two guards remains a major offseason question, especially as the team considers how to develop Fears.

One of the biggest names in Pelicans trade speculation remains Murphy.

NBA insider Jake Fischer said other teams “absolutely want him,” but New Orleans has not shown interest in a trade package built mostly around draft picks. Fischer said the Pelicans would likely seek a “buy-now, get-better” type of return if they moved the 25-year-old forward.

That stance suggests the Pelicans are not treating Murphy as a rebuilding trade chip, at least for now.

Murphy is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 37.9% from 3-point range.

Reports have also linked Murphy’s potential value to the kind of return Memphis received for Desmond Bane, who was traded to Orlando in a package that included four first-round picks. But if New Orleans wants immediate help instead of a draft-heavy return, finding the right deal could be difficult.

Photos: Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears work as NBA Finals player correspondents

The Pelicans’ search for frontcourt help could also include Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart, according to Pelican Debrief. Stewart is a possible fit because of his defensive presence, physical style and ability to help New Orleans close out possessions on the glass.

Detroit is weighing its own frontcourt future, including the expected cost of keeping center Jalen Duren. Stewart would address one of New Orleans’ biggest needs. The Pelicans struggled on the defensive glass last season, and New Orleans may need to improve without overcommitting future assets.

Without a first-round pick, a full rebuild would likely require the Pelicans to explore trades involving players with value around the league. Murphy and Herb Jones would likely draw interest, though the team would reportedly want a win-now return if they moved Murphy.

The same tension applies to any aggressive trade pursuit. Adding a proven star would signal that New Orleans is trying to contend, but that kind of move could also cost the team players or assets needed to build around its younger core.

That makes this offseason less about one specific move and more about direction.

The Pelicans have already picked Mosley as the coach to lead the next phase. Now they have to decide whether that phase is a rebuild, a playoff push or another attempt to walk the line between both.

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