After literal months of anticipation, the 2024-25 NBA trade deadline has finally come and gone, leaving behind humongous craters in the league landscape after dropping several superstar-sized bombs across the country. The New Orleans Pelicans actually sent a nuclear warhead across an international border, trading Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown Jr., a top-four protected first-round pick in 2026, and a future second-rounder.
That was actually the second move of the week for New Orleans and Executive Vice President David Griffin. The first was a piece of financial finagling that saw the Pelicans send Daniel Theis along with their 2031 second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for "cash considerations." It was clear that they were simply trying to cut salary and duck the luxury tax as a result, paying OKC a bit of draft capital for their troubles. The Thunder waived Theis the very next day, despite their need for additional big-man depth after Chet Holmgren fractured his pelvis.
Overall, the Pelicans' 2025 trade deadline was a bit underwhelming, paling in comparison to some of the earth-shattering moves that other teams made as well as the expectations they set up for themselves by reportedly listing almost their entire roster available for deals. Still, the team accomplished their most pressing goals by avoiding the luxury tax and getting something in return for Brandon Ingram's expiring contract. That said, the Pelicans definitely could have had a much better trade deadline, especially considering these two massive shortcomings.
The New Orleans Pelicans missed two big opportunities at 2025 NBA Trade Deadline
1. Not trading CJ McCollum
After watching Brandon Ingram's trade value deplete over the past few years before ultimately trading him for a meager package centered around a single first-round pick, it seems that David Griffin and the Pelicans are happy to make the exact same mistake with CJ McCollum. By the time next season tips off, CJ will be 34 years old and in the last year of his contract.
Since his last deal was only for two years, he's ineligible to sign an extension — with the Pelicans or any team that could potentially trade for him next year. Essentially, not trading him this season made it so that New Orleans can only shop him next year as a half-season rental or risk losing him outright in free agency in the summer of 2026.
Perhaps David Griffin and the rest of the Pelicans' brass did their due diligence and couldn't find a deal worth making. That's a little hard to believe, though, when the Phoenix Suns gave up a first-round pick just to dump Jusuf Nurkic's salary and get Cody Martin. When Kyle Kuzma nets a first-round pick swap and the 23rd-overall selection from the previous draft, I feel like New Orleans could have gotten something of value for CJ McCollum.
2. Not trading Javonte Green
For a while there, Javonte Green was the only Pelican supposedly drawing any interest from other teams, with multiple reportedly calling in about him ahead of the deadline. Despite that, Green remained in New Orleans through the deadline buzzer. Why? I can't think of a single good reason.
Green will hit unrestricted free agency this summer. He's likely outplayed the veteran minimum that New Orleans signed him to last offseason and should draw plenty of interest from contending hopefuls as a mercenary on the market. Maybe playing out the year will help the Pelicans build a repertoire with Javonte that'll lead to him re-signing on a team-friendly deal. Even then, though, I can't say that they wouldn't have been better off just trading him to whichever playoff team offered the best second-round pick or whatever package he could have gone for.