TRADE RUMORS: Are the Pelicans CHASING Ja Morant for EXCITEMENT or RISKING Their Franchise FUTURE?
New Orleans Pelicans face a turning point as Ja Morant trade rumors spark debate: can star power alone revive a struggling franchise, or is a deeper rebuild the real solution? Questions surround Morant’s fit alongside Zion Williamson, his off-court issues, and the impact on rookie development—all with massive salary cap implications looming.
Jake Madison breaks down why Morant’s arrival could inject short-term excitement but might also clog the Pelicans’ financial future, block rookie progress, and fail to solve defensive or shooting woes. The episode covers potential trade packages, concerns with team culture, and New Orleans’ reluctance to embrace a patient rebuild. Is chasing a superstar the answer, or a distraction from addressing systemic problems? The upcoming salary cap situation and long-term team structure get examined as the Pelicans weigh risky moves against building sustainable success.
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24 Comments
I'd rather pay Ja 30+ mil than Poole or Murray. Maybe move one of them plus Herb. Only caveat is if we're intentionally aiming for a top pick in 2 drafts in order to get the 3rd member of our big 3. But it depends on who's in that class so you rely on your scouts' grades for that particular class. He would have to commit to an entirely new approach to his life though because we had a lot of murder in this city over the last week so we can't have you endorsing behavior that brings more death to our community. I'd need to know HE wants better from himself. I'd have to know he's ready to become a man. If he gave that commitment, maybe he starts a comeback journey here. Go to charity hospital trauma ward; volunteer in juvenile detention centers where kids murdered other kids. There is a possibility of mutual benefit both on and off the court. As far as on the court, I'm open to it, but under specific moral conditions and we can't include the lotto pick in 2 drafts. On the type of players I'm also including a no weed clause with regular tests.
Nice show. Go get Ja then go get some spacing.
You are kidding yourself if you think Memphis would take Poole.
Instead of 'falling in love' with players possessing one off-the-chart skill, but with obvious holes in their game, I rather the ''brain-trust" (using the term loosely) concentrate on targeting complete players. There's a reason Mac McClung is a super-star on All Star weekend and an afterthought in the G.League for the rest of the year.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU HAVE TO PLACE YOUR HOPES IN 96' BASKETBALL PLAYERS!!!
If you can't play on both ends of the court, pass on them. There's a reason so many GM's covet Herb (and by no means is he elite offensively).
Face it: ZW is unstoppable when he is and truly unplayable when he isn't. That said, I don't want to paint DQ with the same brush, but……….
Go get him
Fun to talk about but realistically you have to give up multiple young guys and picks for him so it ain’t gonna happen and for the record he don’t want to be here 🤣
Not happening
No it doesn’t make sense we need someone who can shoot the ball
Every dayeeer
Ja Morant is not the answer. I promise this will not go the way everyone thinks it would go. You just said Ja has played LESS games than Zion… Why would we do that to ourselves. The Zion experiment is leaning towards a bust. They both have issues off the court and on the court big dunks are what gets attention. In a league that is 3pt shooting centered. It's time this team gets it's head out of its ass and start building around these young guys.
Hell naw. In Fears we trust.
Get…… Ja….. Now!!!! This team needs more Elite talent. Zion needs help, he needs another star. These fans deserve some excitement…
Also, go after a REAL PG…. See if we can get Lonzo Ball back from the Bulls. He understands the value of a possession and dosen't try to do too much. He won't get in Zion and Ja's way. Plus he'll get them the ball. That's all we need
Ja adds something that this team has needed for years which is a lead decision maker with a good handle. He’s also an underrated passer and playmaker which this team desperately needs. U see queen make such a huge impact because he’s probably the only competent passer on this team rn. (Zion has regressed a lot in that category) but the downsides of Ja are too great imo. Him, queen and Zion on the court is a defensive disaster, he’s a poor shooter, and him and Zion together I think would only bring the worst out of each other in terms of off court issues. Overall, not good
Noooooooooooooo
We need to come out fighting after all star break to build team chemistry and lower that damn Hawks pick! 🏀🇬🇧
JA to the Pels makes perfect sense
Hi Jake
First of all they have no future, and second of all this would be the absolute worst thing they could possibly do, so….it's probably gonna happen.
Its extremely unlikely a winner will be built here, but what can be built is a team that a city is excited to see, a team that win or lose left it all on the court. I like alot of our players but "for me" the team has lost that thing that make me want to go see them win or lose.
Pelicans
Yes nothing that they have done has made them better all these cough great trades this team has made has done nothing for this team we are the worst team in the nba because of all these play it safe trades Ingram,cousins,ball Murray and insistence on keeping guys like Herb Jose and at this point Poole is just foolish talent wins in the NBA not great feel good stories I would trade those 3 in a heart beat for ja and edey he’ll give them a first or two and don’t blame Zion this team has yet to put the talent around him to be a factor.
Just do it! What's the alternative at this point? Who has confidence in this front office to turn this around. At least Morant brings that excitement, is something different and will make the Pels at least more relevant. This is like the Boogie trade. You just do it and see what happens. No free agents are coming here, so what's the other option?
You are loosing your mind. So turning a 65 million backcourt of Poole, murray and alvarado into a 50 million Morant and fears backcourt is not better???
Will the Butler injury create/enhance trade opportunities for the Pels? Maybe help get off of Murray or Poole contracts, maybe add Herb? Can you take back JB, waive or stretch him, and get some picks/young assets for a rebuild? Get a third team in the mix and maybe Zion?