Pelicans’ Joe Dumars: No trade out there that I felt would make us better

The Pelicans haven’t done much this summer. Joe Dumars says that doesn’t mean they haven’t tried.

New Orleans’ executive vice president of basketball operations told Rod Walker of NOLA.com that the Pelicans have held plenty of trade conversations this offseason. They simply haven’t found one they believe makes them better.

“We were engaged in a lot of conversations with a lot of different teams,” Dumars said. “But at the end of the day, you’ve got to make a determination if this is the right deal or not. You don’t want to make a move for the sake of making a move.”

And quiet might be an understatement.

After winning just 26 games last season, the Pelicans hired Jamahl Mosley as coach but have done little to change the roster. Their notable personnel moves have consisted of re-signing DeAndre Jordan and giving second-round pick Jaron Pierre Jr. a two-way contract.

Dumars insisted the inactivity hasn’t been from a lack of effort.

“There was just no big deal that I felt was going to make us better for us to pull the trigger on,” he said.

Pelicans staying patient on trades

Dumars didn’t identify specific players involved in those conversations.

Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones have generated interest around the league, though New Orleans reportedly has maintained a high asking price for both.

The Pelicans have also explored trade possibilities involving Jordan Hawkins. Moving Hawkins and his $7.02 million salary could give New Orleans additional flexibility to use its mid-level exception without entering luxury-tax territory.

Dumars said the Pelicans also had opportunities to move into the first round of this year’s draft but decided the price was too high.

“That’s where discipline comes in,” he said.

Dumars encouraged by Williamson

Much of New Orleans’ outlook once again revolves around Zion Williamson.

Williamson appeared in 62 games last season, the second-highest total of his career, and Dumars wants to see what the former No. 1 overall pick can do under Mosley.

Perhaps more encouraging to Dumars is what he’s seen from Williamson this summer.

“To be great, you have to be obsessed with this,” Dumars said. “You can’t casually become great in this league.”

Dumars believes he’s seeing that type of commitment.

“What I’ve seen from him this summer is he’s obsessed with the work he’s putting in,” Dumars said. “And that is really encouraging for me.”

So the Pelicans may not have delivered the dramatic offseason some fans expected.

Dumars’ position is pretty straightforward: making no big move was better than making the wrong one.