The New Orleans Pelicans can’t catch a break. They have one of the deepest and best defensive rosters in the NBA, but Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones, Jordan Hawkins, Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III are all out for extended periods with various injuries. After setting themselves up for success, the injury bug hit hard, ruining the season before it could get off the ground.
With all of those injured players under contract through at least next season, with most contracts not expiring until 2027-28, New Orleans can waste this season and use their two draft picks in 2025 to add young, high-level talent.
Their areas of need are very clear: a solid center. Daniel Theis is currently holding the paint down for New Orleans, making that position by far their weakest. They could target a young big in the draft, but even a loaded class like the upcoming 2025 one is never a sure thing. Instead, the Pelicans could swing a trade for a proven center.
While the Pelicans are ready to win as soon as their core gets healthy, the Brooklyn Nets are still a season (or three) away from competing. All of their veterans have been included in NBA trade rumors, and center Nic Claxton would be a perfect fit in New Orleans. He is not an elite scoring threat, but he is a solid rebounder and high-level shot blocker who could give Williamson–when healthy–a break on defense.
The Nets could take on Brandon Ingram and draft capital for Claxton and Shake Milton. Ingram is on an expiring contract, so the Nets will likely let him walk and use their open salary space to add a solid free agent in 2025. On top of that, they add a draft pick to bolster their rebuild, which is expected to take off once the Nets land a high pick in the 2025 draft.
The Pelicans might be out of it this season, but with a starting five of Murray, McCollum, Jones, Williamson and Claxton with Murphy III, Theis and Hawkins coming off the bench, the 2026 playoffs could finally be their time to shine.
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