The New Orleans Pelicans have been playing the best basketball of the 2025-26 season as of late, currently riding a five-game win streak. We are starting to see interim head coach James Borrego's imprint on this team, as the group is playing with a faster pace on offense and prioritizing switchability on defense.
With this shift, we are starting to see which players Borrego trusts and which ones he doesn’t. In the center rotation, it appears Yves Missi may be the odd man out.
Over the team's last seven games, Missi's average minutes have dropped from 20.2 per game to just 8.2. Also important to note that most of his recent playing time has come in garbage time, and on Monday, he received a DNP against the Dallas Mavericks. Not seeing the court at all against the Mavericks is a telling sign of where he sits in Borrego's rotation, as Dallas relies heavily on its size, which makes this a matchup Missi typically thrives in.
The rise of Karlo Matković
One of the main reasons Missi has been pushed down the depth chart is the resurgence of Karlo Matković. In the Pelicans' win over Chicago on December 14th, Matković really established his place in the team's rotation. After sitting for the first 36 minutes, he came in and played the entire fourth quarter, making winning plays and being a determining factor in New Orleans coming out on top.
Since that game, Matković has been the clear backup center behind Derik Queen and has made the most of his opportunities, averaging 4.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and one block over the Pels' last four games. He's just way more polished, versatile, and talented at this point in his career than Missi is, not to mention that Matković also fits Borregos' fast-paced offensive style better, as athletically he's an absolute freak.
Missi's future in New Orleans
After a really successful rookie season that saw Missi earn All-rookie second team honors, the future for him in New Orleans isn't looking great. Missi began this year with a ton of hype surrounding him, and even started in six games, but the NBA moves fast, and it looks like the Pelicans may be ready to move on without Missi.
The combination of Missi still being extremely raw and appearing to lack the coaching staff's trust could make him a trade candidate before the deadline. It’s not hard to imagine a team taking a chance on a 21-year-old former top rookie, allowing the Pelicans to address other needs, such as three-point shooting.
Obviously, the NBA changes fast, and one injury could see Missi right back in this team's rotation. But if things remain the same, I wouldn't be shocked if he is traded at some point this season.