3 matchups featuring players the Pelicans could've easily traded for
- Isaiah Joe vs Detroit, November 18, 202
- Daniel Gafford vs Dallas, January 4, 2027
- Nic Claxton vs Chicago, April 11, 2027 (last game of the season)
The NBA offseason is pretty much its end following Thursday’s wrap-up to schedule week around the league, and the New Orleans Pelicans still remain quiet. Originally, when the Pelicans entered the summer, fans had two expectations: some type of roster shake-up and a new head coach being put in place. The second part happened with Jamahl Mosley signing a five-year contract to be the franchise's next head coach—the first part, not so much.
Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver elected to bring back 14 of last year's 15 players and run things back with a new coaching staff.​
There were plenty of moves fans wanted to see this offseason. So now that the entire schedule is out, I thought it was important to highlight three matchups that showcase players the front office could’ve acquired via the trade market to help improve this roster.
Isaiah Joe vs Detroit, November 18, 202
Outside of the center spot, another obvious need this Pelicans team had entering the 2026 offseason was more floor spacing, and Isaiah Joe could’ve addressed that at an attainable price. With the Thunder in a major cap crunch, Detroit only had to give up two future second-round picks to land a guy who's shot 40-plus percent from three for the last four years in a row. Joe was arguably the jugarnaunt OKC team's best three-point shooter over the past several seasons, and he could’ve been on the Pelicans had the front office managed their assets better.
What allowed the Pistons to pull this deal off over New Orleans wasn’t because they couldn’t offer two second-round picks but rather because they didn’t have any financial flexibility. The Pelicans' books were packed entering the offseason, and that immediately took them out of both the Joe sweepstakes and Aaron Wiggins sweepstakes.
On November 18, 2026, when the Pistons come to town, fans will get a look at the type of elite floor spacer this team has been desperately searching for and has failed to acquire.
Daniel Gafford vs Dallas, January 4, 2027
Daniel Gafford is a name that, if you aren’t new here, you’d know I’ve been campaigning for the Pelicans to go after in a trade for a long time. The Pelicans enter 2026-27 with a starting center tandem of Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic. That tandem brings a ton of athleticism, a ton of upside, and a yin-yang vibe I like. However, what they are both severely missing is experience, and Gafford could’ve brought exactly that.​
For a while now, it felt like Gafford was an expendable piece for a Mavericks team that was trying to move on from the Luka Doncic era. Marc Stein confirmed that toward the end of July, but the Pelicans never acted. They had a perfect package built around Jordan Poole that would’ve given Dallas another ball handler to pair with Cooper Flagg, while creating long-term salary relief.
When Gafford rolls into town on January 4, 2027, fans won’t only get a look at what potentially could’ve been this team's starting center, but also a massive test for Missi and Matkovic. If that duo can hold their own on the boards and in the paint with a bruising force like Gafford, they are trending in the right direction. If not, it’ll only validate why he could’ve been a great veteran add.
Nic Claxton vs Chicago, April 11, 2027 (last game of the season)
The Pelicans' need for a center was obvious this offseason, and Nic Claxton could’ve been perfect. His ability to roll to the rim and finish plays, be an elite rim protector, and hold his own on the perimeter all could’ve helped this team. On top of that, he would have also been a great timeline fit at 27 years old. But ahead of all of those things was the price tag he was traded for: nothing. Technically not nothing, but all they had to give up was forward Mouhamadou Gueye, who was immediately waived by the Hornets.
Chicago, because of the cap flexibility they entered the offseason with, was able to jump into a four-team deal between the Hornets, Timberwolves and Nets to land their starting center for the 2026-27 season.
It could’ve been that easy for the Pelicans too, but unlike Chicago, they came into this offseason with minimal financial flexibility and because of that missed out on an ideal five-man to pair with Zion Williamson. So when Pelicans fans watch the Bulls come to town for the last game of the season, they can sit back and dream of Zion and Clax in the open floor catching lobs and rocking the rim.
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