According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans held discussions around this year's trade deadline regarding Yves Missi. However, even with his demotion from starting center to second unit, the price to pry him from the Crescent City was a first-round pick. Passing up on that proposal must have been an easy decision for Boston.
Missi is a talented young player. The 21st pick in the 2025 NBA Draft earned a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team in his first year in the Association. Even after his Sophomore season represented a step backwards, he has career averages of 7.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks through his first two campaigns.
However, parting with first-round draft capital to acquire him would have been too steep a price to pay. That's why Missi remained in New Orleans despite Scotto reporting "significant interest" from the Celtics, Pacers, Hawks, Knicks, Bulls, Lakers, and Raptors.
Losing the optionality that would have come with trading their first-round pick would not have been worth it. That pick could even go towards drafting a center they're excited to bring on board. And Boston has resources like the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, valued at $15 million for the 2026-27 campaign, available to it. That could go toward acquiring a more impactful veteran at the position, like Robert Williams III.
Unfortunately, those trade-deadline conversations are probably also a signal of what's to come with the Celtics' pursuit of another promising young member of the Pelicans.
Celtics' Trey Murphy III hopes are likely in for a similar fate
On the heels of the Western Conference Finals, Bill Simmons shared that he saw Boston as a potential landing spot for the sharpshooting wing, who's about to enter his prime.
"Trey Murphy [III], we assume he's probably going to get traded over these next three weeks. I think Boston is a possibility," said the host of The Bill Simmons Podcast. "We thought whoever lost this matchup [Spurs and Thunder] was a possibility; there's a couple [of] other teams. But you have two, three weeks to trade for somebody like that."
As much interest as the Celtics might have in acquiring Murphy, if the price for the Pelicans to part with Missi was too high, the same is probably true for what it will take for them to part with their leading scorer.
After all, there isn't a contract dispute or a trade demand necessitating that New Orleans move him. It will take quite the incentive to pry Murphy from a franchise that continues to stubbornly cling to the players generating the most interest around the league.
And while it is unknown what the organization that resides in the Big Easy is willing to offer to move up in this year's draft, Scotto reports there's a belief that the Pelicans have an eye on a specific prospect in the top-10 range.
As a result of last year's trade to move up for Derik Queen, New Orleans does not have a first-round pick at the moment. If they're desperate enough and aiming far enough up the board, maybe they'll make Murphy available. If they can acquire their perceived target without doing so, then it is probably best to keep a burgeoning wing who is only about to turn 26.
So, while Murphy is worth the Celtics pursuing and the idea of him joining forces with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is an enticing path forward, unfortunately, as with their trade-deadline talks with the Pelicans, these discussions will probably meet the same fate.
Add us as a preferred source on Google