The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly working on a Yves Missi for Bennedict Mathurin swap with the Indiana Pacers.
The trade rumors surrounding the New Orleans Pelicans continue to pick up as they have now shifted their focus to potentially moving some of their role players.
NBA insider Jake Fischer (paid subscription required) reported on Thursday that the Pelicans have been working on a deal with the Indiana Pacers involving a swap of Yves Missi and Bennedict Mathurin, and it could end up being a trade that actually happens if the Pacers can't find a better option.
"There have been whispers about various trade constructions that would feature Missi landing with Indiana and swingman Bennedict Mathurin heading to New Orleans," reported Fischer.
Indiana desperately needs more help at the center position. After Myles Turner left for the Milwaukee Bucks, it left them with Jay Huff, Tony Bradley and Isaiah Jackson as their center room.
The Pacers have made it their mission to find a new center, and it looks like Missi is their best option available right now.
The second-year player has seen a drop in minutes on this team and doesn't seem to have a future as a starter on this roster, but he still provides a ton of energy and flashes of potential off the bench.
Missi has been playing basketball for around six years now. He's super raw, and it's actually impressive where he's at currently for having so little experience. Part of that is him just being an athletic freak.
He is currently averaging 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds with 1.3 blocks per game on 18.8 minutes. His playing time is inconsistent, but he's been fairly consistent in providing solid play when he gets chances and has turned many games around when put into the game.
Sure, he's not perfect, but it's not really clear why the Pelicans are making such a push to trade him. He's going to, at worst, be a cheap and solid backup center for two more years on his rookie deal.
It also seems odd on both sides that the player he might get moved for is Mathurin. Indiana fans are likely going to want more value for a former sixth overall pick, and New Orleans would be getting someone that they would have to pay a lot of money to keep past this season.
Mathurin is averaging a career-best 17.8 points per game this season, along with 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He's shooting 42.3/36.6/87.6 splits.
The 23-year-old is in the 90th percentile in usage, 53rd percentile in points per shot attempt and 28th percentile in effective field goal percentage. He is also a negative defender.
Those numbers fit the profile of someone that the Pelicans already have and want to get rid of: Jordan Poole. Mathurin shoots one fewer three-pointer per game than Poole, but is making them at a slightly better rate.
The only world where acquiring Mathurin makes sense for New Orleans is one where Poole is traded elsewhere. Playing them together seems like a recipe for disaster.
It's not that it would be a disastrous move for the Pelicans; it just doesn't seem to make a ton of sense right now.