Pelicans making case to keep team together before trade deadline

Trey Murphy III delivered the game-sealing block in a 119-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Even playing without Zion Williamson, who was sitting out in the second half of a back-to-back, the Pelicans defeated the defending Western Conference champions thanks to 30 points from Dejounte Murray.

New Orleans improved to 10-32, only the NBA's second-worst record now. It's a lost season for the Pelicans, who have been decimated by injuries, but the last two weeks have shown flashes of what the team could be. The Pelicans won five of their last eight, with one of the losses a one-point defeat to the Boston Celtics.

The 24-year-old Murphy has emerged as a scorer, going from 14.8 points per game last season to 21.6. In his last five games, he's up to 25 points per game. He and Murray have shown they make a good duo on both sides of the ball, and with Williamson back, the Pelicans are competitive every night. That's even without All-Defensive first-teamer Herb Jones, who is out indefinitely with a torn labrum.

That may convince the Pelicans to hold onto players like CJ McCollum at the trade deadline. They'd still likely try to trade Brandon Ingram, who has been out with an ankle injury since Dec. 7, since he's a free agent this summer. But with the team showing competence and first-round pick Yves Missi looking like a keeper at center, the Pelicans should leave the rest of their roster alone.

Especially since they're looking at a lottery pick, plus the Milwaukee Bucks' first-rounder in the 2025 draft. If they want to dump players on expiring deals, that's one thing, but the core of the team is showing it can win games with even a modicum of health.