Trae Young was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. When news of the trade broke, the four-time All-Star point guard was sitting on the bench in street clothes, still recovering from a quadriceps contusion.
The Eagles traded their biggest stars for guards C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert. So the first domino of the league’s February 5 trade deadline fell during a Hawks home game, perhaps ironically against the New Orleans Pelicans, who, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, are not trending toward making any such trades.
advertise
In fact, the Pelicans are telling teams that Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones and 2025 first-rounders Derek Quinn and Jeremy Fiers will remain in New Orleans past the deadline, according to Haynes.
The Pelicans have a record of 8-31, the second-worst record in the league. In November, they fired head coach Willie Green, who was in his fifth season after 12 games. James Borrego, the former head coach of the Charlotte Hornets and associate head coach under Green, became the interim head coach of the Pelicans.
The team is currently on a nine-game skid, returning to Earth after a five-game winning streak last month provided hope for the holidays.
advertise
It’s no surprise that New Orleans is sticking with the Queens and Fears. On one hand, they are promising rookies.
Quinn is averaging 12.9 points per game, and the 21-year-old center has scored more than 20 points eight times. Along the way, the Maryland product has recorded seven double-doubles and had a triple-double of 10 points on 33 shots against the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 8. Fiers, a 19-year-old guard from Oklahoma State, averaged 14.2 points per game and shot 43.3% from the field. He has scored 20 points in eight games himself.
Not only are they young and fun, but they are also players drafted by first-year Pelicans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars.
Dumars inherits three other players on the roster that Haynes reported.
advertise
Williamson headlines the group.
The two-time All-Star forward is still only 25 years old. If there was ever a time to sell his stock at a premium, it might be now. The oft-injured Williamson has played in 13 consecutive games. He has started the past six games, averaging 24.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1 steal per game while shooting 61.6% from the field.
He is currently healthy and his contract is non-guaranteed for the next two seasons.
The thought is that the Pelicans could be aggressive at the deadline and bring back assets to veteran starters like Williamson.
New Orleans acquired Quinn in last year’s draft, giving the Eagles a 2026 first-round pick. The team doesn’t have a second-round pick until the 2030 draft.
advertise
However, based on Haynes’ report, it appears the Pelicans will stick with their core beyond the deadline.
