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New Orleans Pelicans big man Yves Missi, a reported Los Angeles Lakers trade target, is apparently unhappy with his name being attached to the rumor mill ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
Per ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Missi’s frustration also stems from the fact that he has been relegated to a bench role since the Pelicans drafted Derik Queen last year.
“The 21-year-old big man and his camp feel disrespected by the Pelicans for his major decrease in minutes, and tension has formed between the two sides, sources say,” Siegel reported on Sunday.
“Not only does Missi want an elevated role, but the organization is fielding a ton of [trade] interest in him, making him one of the most likely players to be on the move before this year’s trade deadline.”
Lakers Trade Target: Yves Missi
Missi, who started 67 games as a rookie last year, was previously viewed as a key core piece of the Pelicans’ future. In his rookie season, the Cameroonian center averaged an impressive 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, earning himself a spot in the All-Rookie Second Team. Many beat writers covering the Pels had predicted that Missi would take a huge leap this season. All that obviously changed with Queen’s arrival.
Amid his frustrations with the Pelicans franchise, Missi is reportedly one of the most likely players to be dealt before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
Per insider Evan Sidery, the Lakers are among at least six teams that have inquired with the Pelicans about a potential Yves Missi trade.
“Yves Missi is generating significant interest on the trade market once the Pelicans were open to fielding offers,” Sidery reported. “The Celtics, Knicks, Lakers, Pacers, Raptors, and Warriors are among the teams who recently inquired on Missi.”
NBA Trade Deadline Heats Up
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Knicks recently called the Pelicans to express interest in both Missi and Jose Alvarado. Siegel’s report corroborated the same.
“The Knicks are one of the handful of teams with strong interest in Missi, sources said. Since he is in the second year of his rookie contract, any team rumored to be in search of extra frontcourt depth has likely called the Pelicans to discuss a potential trade. Multiple teams in the Eastern Conference, including New York and Toronto Raptors, have held Missi trade dialogue with New Orleans.”
Missi isn’t the only big man the Lakers are reportedly pursuing ahead of the NBA trade deadline, with Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford and the Brooklyn Nets’ Nic Claxton also earmarked as potential Lakers trade targets. The Lakers can’t be blamed for trying to upgrade from Deandre Ayton, a mediocre rim protector who struggles to switch efficiently in pick-and-rolls. Look no further than the fact that the Lakers rank dead-last in opponent pick-and-roll field goal percentage (.611) against the roll man, 17th in opponent paint points allowed (50.4) and 25th in defensive rating.
The Pelicans have picked up their Team Option on Missi’s rookie-scale deal for next season, making him an attractive piece for teams unable to take back much salary. Missi is owed $3.5M in 2026-27 and $5.6M in 2027-28 before hitting restricted free agency.