Pelicans rejected Lakers' trade offer for Pelicans' $15 million All-Rookie center, per report

It’s safe to assume Trey Murphy and Herb Jones are the two New Orleans Pelicans contributors who have intrigued the Los Angeles Lakers the most thus far. 

Murphy’s textbook read-and-react offensive approach, combined with his high-level defensive skill set, makes him a target that makes plenty of sense for Los Angeles. Jones isn’t the offensive player Murphy is, but his ability to establish himself as an elite defensive presence over five NBA seasons has paid dividends for him from a trade-interest perspective. 

That said, New Orleans’ 27-year-old All-Rookie center (2024-25), Yves Missi, is another high-upside young Pelicans asset that the Lakers have reportedly kept tabs on. According to a report from SNY’s Ian Begley, the Lakers have inquired about the Baylor product. 

However, Begley made it clear that the Pelicans aren’t interested in whatever Los Angeles has to offer for the former first-round pick.

“Multiple teams, including the Lakers, have reached out to the Pelicans about Yves Missi, but the Pelicans have resisted those offers,” Begley wrote Tuesday. 

While the Pelicans’ stance on trading Missi could change in due time, it appears he’s an untouchable asset for now. The 22-year-old center is still a work in progress offensively, but is a daunting shot blocker through 139 NBA contests (he’s recorded 199 blocks). 

If New Orleans commits to developing Missi, the Lakers will be forced to remove him from their list of potential trade targets.

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