Photo: New Orleans Pelicans/YouTube

Evan Sidery reported on Friday, June 5, that the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to circle back on trade discussions involving New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi.

Sidery noted that Los Angeles and the Pelicans previously explored a framework during the season centered on Dalton Knecht and second-round draft capital in exchange for Missi.

Missi, 22, is entering the third year of a four-year, $15.6 million contract, which includes a team option on the final season.

The young center has built his role around rim protection and finishing efficiency, producing 5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game across 66 appearances in the 2025-26 regular season.

The Lakers finished the 2025-26 regular season 53-29 and reached the Western Conference Finals stage in the 2026 playoffs, where interior depth remained a key roster focus behind Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes.

Ayton provided consistent scoring efficiency at 67.1 percent from the field while averaging 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds, while Hayes contributed 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in limited minutes.

Missi’s profile aligns with that type of evaluation, given his 1.5 blocks per game and 2.8 offensive rebounds per game for the Pelicans across 19.7 minutes per contest.

For New Orleans, Missi emerged as a rotation piece on a roster that included Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III, with the team finishing 26-56 in the Western Conference standings.

The Pelicans’ frontcourt rotation also featured Derik Queen and Karlo Matkovic, creating internal depth that could factor into offseason roster decisions.

Los Angeles previously discussed a deal structure involving Knecht, who played 10.2 minutes per game across 54 appearances while shooting 34.2 percent from three-point range. Draft capital was also included in those preliminary conversations.