As the NBA trade deadline approaches, every front office is making plans on how it wants to approach the league’s most hectic time of year. For the New Orleans Pelicans, a report from Chris Haynes made their position clear on several of their big names, with Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen all listed as untouchable.
Someone the Pelicans front office should consider adding to that list of untouchables is 21-year-old big man Yves Missi, who is playing the best basketball of his young career in the team’s last 10 games.
Perseverance, hustle and contrast
Going into the 2025-2026 season, I felt that Missi was someone who was viewed as expendable by the front office and someone who I often doubted would be a long-term fit for this team. When the regime that drafted him in 2024 was fired and a new front office took over, their first big move was trading up in the 2025 draft for another big man. It didn’t look good for him.
Taking into account the poor play in the Summer League and the coaching staff seeing interim head coach James Borrego lean on Karlo Matković as the team’s backup center, it felt like Missi’s fate in New Orleans was sealed. However, Missi didn’t throw in the towel; his body language didn’t change on the bench. He still cheered on his team and waited for his next opportunity.
His chance to redeem himself came on December 23 against Cleveland, and from the moment he stepped on the field, the energy and hustle with which Missi played was unparalleled. Despite the Pels losing by 23 points, he led the team in plus-minus that night, and they nearly won the minutes Missi was on the court. That night perfectly captured the impact he has made over the team’s last ten games.
Right now, I truly believe Missi is playing the best basketball of his career as he really starts to carve out a role as an energy-shifting backup. While his averages over this 10-game stretch don’t look better on paper than those from his rookie season, they are much more impactful. Missi is averaging 5.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in just 18 minutes per game during this 10-game sample.
On every play, it feels like Missi has some sort of huge play almost immediately after coming on, whether that’s finishing a lob in transition or a highlight block.
Missi also provides a nice contrast to what the Pelicans get from their usual starting center, Derik Queen. DQ is a big man with finesse who looks to create scoring opportunities for others and can be relied on to lead the team’s attack, which provides a nice contrast because when Missi comes in, it’s all about hustling and finishing plays.
To start the season, I would and have told you that the Pelicans absolutely needed to acquire Yves Missi as it was unclear what his long-term fit and role with the franchise would be. That said, his play lately is a clear indication that he should remain on this team past the February 5 deadline, as he can at least be a high-level, high-energy player off the bench.
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