Pelicans Keep Zion Williamson, Murphy and Jones

Merlin sees the Pelicans headed into the Feb. 5 deadline as expected sellers at 12-37, yet sources told The Athletic it is "unlikely" New Orleans will move Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III or Herb Jones before the cut. The club is "focused on building a future around 2025 first-round picks Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen" and believes those veterans "can be foundational pieces of the puzzle moving forward." Merlin senses patience over panic. Zion still leads New Orleans at 22.0 points per game despite constant injuries, so the front office prefers youth and cap flexibility. Rumors of a Ja Morant swap were labeled "completely false" and "extremely low" because the team trusts Fears. Expect New Orleans to shop heavy contracts like Jordan Poole or Dejounte Murray, and to field offers for center Yves Missi while keeping options open.