The New Orleans Pelicans enter the 2026 offseason with a ton of roster decisions to make, but none bigger than what to do about both the starting point guard and center spot. When Dejounte Murray first returned, it appeared that the Pelicans would be foolish to consider trading him, as New Orleans' offense looked the smoothest it had all season.
However, the continued emergence of Jeremiah Fears during the Pelicans' final stretch has left many fans wondering whether his progress has earned him the right to start next season.
Like previously mentioned, the Pelicans have to address the starting center spot this summer, whether they continue to rebuild or don't, and upgrading that spot could come at the cost of Murray. When you think about what the Pelicans need from the center spot, whether you're pairing them with Zion Williamson or Derik Queen in the frontcourt, one thing’s certain: they need rim protection.
Looking at the NBA landscape, a few teams have hit or are on the verge of hitting a ceiling with their current core, and one of them is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Back-to-back conference finals appearances are a great accomplishment, but at some point, change has to happen, and it seems like Rudy Gobert could be the one out the door. Considering the Wolves have been searching for a pass-first, floor general type of point guard to pair with Anthony Edwards, a swap of Murray for Gobert could be a win-win trade.
The Timberwolves' faltering in the playoffs could fix the Pelicans' biggest flaw
Dunking with Wolves Site Expert Eamon Cassels recently highlighted how Gobert's poor offensive production could sink Minnesota in the playoffs and lead to him being dealt this summer. Although his lack of offensive production is viewed as a negative in Minnesota, New Orleans wouldn't be trading for him for that part of his game.
Although over certain stretches this season, New Orleans has seen its offensive rating jump as high as sixth—its defense and rebounding have been consistently brutal. This season, the Pelicans rank 22nd in defensive rating and allow the second-most offensive rebounds per game. New Orleans' inability to close out possessions on the glass or get stops late in the shot clock would change with Gobert’s presence.
The biggest question mark surrounding bringing Gobert to New Orleans is the floor spacing. All season, the Pelicans haven't been a particularly strong team from beyond the arc, ranking seventh-worst in three-point percentage.
Pairing Gobert with either Zion or Queen in the frontcourt definitely could have its problems. But the rebuttal to that is that with the Wolves, Gobert has shown he can adapt and play alongside other high-profile scoring bigs.Â
At first, he struggled sharing the floor with both Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns, but as time went on, those pairings got stronger.
New Orleans needs someone proven at the five, and with Jeremiah Fears' end-of-season surge, trading Dejounte Murray for a center upgrade looks like a real possibility. If Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver pursue this path, a call to Tim Connelly in Minnesota about Rudy Gobert should be at the top of the list.