It was less than a month ago that ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reported that the Chicago Bulls would be interested in acquiring Zion Williamson. Siegel stated that the Bulls viewed Williamson as an ideal buy-low candidate, but nothing really came of it. That has since changed, with Bulls reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, Joe Cowley, confirming that the Bulls have had trade talks with New Orleans about Williamson.
Although trading Williamson and bringing an end to that seven-year era may sound like a dream to fans, this report also includes a nightmare situation.
Cowley mentions that the Pelicans and Bulls have also discussed Yves Missi, stating "while the chatter around Williamson has quieted on the Pelicans’ end, there has been momentum around Missi...”
Not long ago, it seemed like Missi could be the odd man out in New Orleans after the Pelicans traded up to draft another center in Derik Queen during the 2025 NBA draft. That concern was amplified by Karlo Matković's emergence off the bench this season. However, Missi's play recently and the potential he's shown over his one-and-a-half seasons in the NBA suggest moving him would be a bone-headed move.
Missi matters just ask the advanced stats
This season, Missi's counting stats won't blow you away at 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in 18.6 minutes. That being said, his impact is way more than his numbers, as he is by far the team's most effective rim protector, an elite play finisher, and the team leader in offensive rebounding percentage.
The stability he brings as a defensive anchor can't be overlooked. This season, New Orleans ranks 28th in the league in defensive rating at 119.2. When Missi is on the court, the defensive rating improves to 114.3, which would be 15th best in the league. That massive jump clearly highlights the impact he has on that end.
From a big-picture standpoint, the Pelicans are just straight-up better when Missi is on the court than when he is riding the bench, a fact reflected in the team’s advanced metric. Missi has the best individual net rating on the team on a per-game basis. Yes, you read that right, better than Trey Murphy III, better than Zion Williamson, better than Derik Queen, better than all of them.
Holding onto Missi would be a much smarter approach than trading him. It would continue to allow him and Queen to build chemistry in the front court that could blossom into a beautiful tandem one day. Queen brings the offense with his scoring and playmaking abilities, and Missi can bring the defense through his rim protection and rebounding.
There’s a reason the Bulls have interest in Missi. At just 21 years old, he has already shown flashes of becoming an elite defensive starting center. That alone shows why the Pelicans trading him now would be a clear misread of who truly matters to this franchise’s future.