{"id":120890,"date":"2025-01-30T06:38:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T11:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=120890"},"modified":"2025-01-30T06:38:52","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T11:38:52","slug":"time-for-the-pelicans-to-reverse-this-recent-yves-missi-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/30\/time-for-the-pelicans-to-reverse-this-recent-yves-missi-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Time For The Pelicans To Reverse This Recent Yves Missi Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yves Missi<\/a> started the season with a clear role. The New Orleans Pelicans needed a reliable center, and Yves Missi fit the profile. He flashed potential as a rim protector and rim runner. However, his usage has dropped significantly in recent weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Time For The Pelicans To Reverse This Recent Yves Missi Decision<\/h2>\n

In January, his field goal attempts fell from 8.1<\/a> per game to 4.7. On Monday, he played 22 minutes against Toronto but failed to take a shot. His usage rate has dipped to a season-low 10.0. Despite his efficiency improving\u2014his true shooting percentage is now 61.8<\/a>\u2014his role has diminished.<\/p>\n

The Pelicans seem to be prioritizing veterans and trade assets. Missi\u2019s reduced role may be part of a strategy to showcase other players before the trade deadline. If CJ McCollum<\/a> and Zion Williamson<\/a> are traded, that could free up more opportunities for Missi. But until then, the team must decide whether development or trade positioning matters more.<\/p>\n

The Pelicans’ Season Is Already Lost<\/h3>\n

The Pelicans<\/a> sit 14th<\/a> in the Western Conference with a 12-36 record. Injuries have devastated their season. Brandon Ingram<\/a> has been out since December 7. Zion<\/a> has missed several games. Most of their top rotation players have dealt with injuries.<\/p>\n

With the playoffs out of reach, the focus should shift to development. The Pelicans have two picks in the 2025 draft\u2014their own and Milwaukee\u2019s. They currently have the third-worst<\/a> record in the league. That means a strong chance at a top lottery pick.<\/p>\n

New Orleans is projected<\/a> to draft a guard or forward in 2025. That makes it even more important to develop Missi now. The team\u2019s long-term future likely includes a frontcourt with him as a key defensive anchor. Limiting his role only stunts his growth.<\/p>\n

Missi Is Showing Defensive Potential<\/h3>\n

Despite his reduced offensive role, Missi continues to shine defensively. He averages 1.5 blocks per game and recently recorded four<\/a> blocks against Dallas. Missi has the physical tools to become an elite paint protector. He is in the 94th<\/a> percentile for players who block at a good rate.<\/p>\n

Missi is also learning by trial and error. He faces dominant big men regularly, forcing him to adapt. He still makes rookie mistakes, but his instincts are improving.<\/p>\n

The Pelicans should lean into his strengths. Teams in today\u2019s NBA value rim protectors who can run the floor. Missi fits that mold. Giving him more minutes and touches will help him develop into a long-term asset.<\/p>\n

Development Should Be The Priority<\/h3>\n

Missi\u2019s assist-to-turnover ratio stands at 1.24<\/a>, with a 7.4% assist rate. Earlier in the season, he moved the ball well within the offense. His ability to make quick decisions is a promising sign. On offense, he finds a way to consistently get to the line(a free throw rate of 46.4%<\/a>), a skill most offices covet. He averages 3.5 offensive rebounds per game, good for fifth<\/a> in the league.<\/p>\n

However, cutting his usage now could slow his growth. This is someone that ranked as high as first<\/a> on the KIA rookie ladder at a point. A rookie\u2019s confidence often depends on consistent playing time. The Pelicans must ensure he gets enough opportunities.<\/p>\n

If McCollum or Williamson is traded<\/a>, Missi’s role should increase naturally. But the front office and head coach Willie Green must prioritize his development now. Even if it doesn\u2019t lead to immediate wins, it will benefit the team in the long run.<\/p>\n

The Pelicans Must Make A Yves Missi Decision<\/h3>\n

The Pelicans have a choice: continue restricting Missi\u2019s role or commit to his development. The latter makes more sense for a team outside the playoff race. He could be the first Pelican to make an all-rookie team since Herb Jones<\/a> in 2021-22<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Missi has already shown enough promise to justify more minutes and touches. The team must reverse its recent decision and give him a bigger role. If they don\u2019t, they risk stalling his progress when they should be nurturing it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yves Missi started the season with a clear role. The New Orleans Pelicans needed a reliable center, and Yves Missi fit the profile. He flashed potential as a rim protector and rim runner. However, his usage has dropped significantly in recent weeks. Time For The Pelicans To Reverse This Recent Yves Missi Decision In January, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":120907,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,33],"tags":[49979,49375,308,1934,4112,98,4745,1712,4774,662,49284,1684],"class_list":["post-120890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-pelicans","tag-2024-25-nba-season","tag-2025-nba-draft","tag-brandon-ingram","tag-cj-mccollum","tag-herb-jones","tag-nba-draft","tag-nba-injuries","tag-nba-rookies","tag-rumors","tag-nba-trade-deadline","tag-yves-missi","tag-zion-williamson"],"modified_by":"Frederick Okocha","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120890"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":120912,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120890\/revisions\/120912"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}