Yves Missi’s Strong Start Is Crucial For The New Orleans Pelicans’ Future

Typically, teams rejoice when their late first-round picks contribute from the jump. That’s the case for New Orleans Pelicans’ rookie Yves Missi, who was selected with the 21st pick this past summer. The springy rim protector has immediately helped cover a major gap at center in New Orleans. Yet his presence also helps us understand some of the team’s shortcomings, despite his early individual success.

Through four games, Missi’s quick start has been notable. While acknowledging the small sample, he protects the rim as well as any Pelican big since Anthony Davis left town. The likes of Derrick Favors, Jonas Valanciunas, Willy Hernangomez and Larry Nance Jr. all had major defensive limitations on the interior.

What Makes Missi A Good Defender?

The early data reflects Missi’s impact. An absurd 8.7 percent block rate and a plus-1.2 Defensive Estimated Plus Minus are both strong for a rookie. Despite some of his size limitations — he measured just under 6-foot-11 in socks at the combine — and his raw pick-and-roll positioning, his vertical paint protection adds a new element to New Orleans’s defense.

YVES MISSI pic.twitter.com/wnJIQm4ZrF

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) October 29, 2024

New Orleans constructs its defense around limiting paint touches at all costs. The Pelicans have trotted out high-level defenses with this formula, anchored by perimeter defenders like Herb Jones rotating early to force jumper-heavy approaches. 

But when teams do work their way to the hoop, the Pelicans allow efficient buckets. Last season, opponents attempted 32.5 percent of their shots against the Pelicans within five feet, good for the ninth-lowest frequency of any team. But those opponents shot 65.1 percent at the rim, placing New Orleans in the bottom six of paint defenses. As he develops, Missi’s shot-blocking should help remedy this.

His mobility, paired with excellent paint protection, fuels his upside as a versatile, modern defensive center. Big men must cover ground in space these days, defending higher up in pick-and-roll, and often rotating through space like a wing. Missi has already flashed competency here, switching out and impacting shots.

yves missi’s defensive flashes are already high level, movement skills and explosion are crazy pic.twitter.com/ztqm96K0To

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) October 17, 2024

Why Is Missi So Important For The Pelicans?

His presence on the offensive end, though, especially illuminates New Orelans’s pressing identity crisis. A Zion Williamson-led offense could lean into bashing opponents on the interior and bruising teams with size and physicality. Missi’s above-the-rim finishing and rolling aid this strategy.

The Pelicans’ roster is undeniably talented. At his peak, Williamson is an All-NBA-level initiator. In the right context, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray are all valuable offensive players. Jones, Trey Murphy, Jordan Hawkins, Jose Alvarado and Javonte Green form a solid group of complementary players.

But disjointed talent, no matter the height of its peaks, will uncover flaws. The Pelicans can play bully ball with Williamson, but aren’t big or tall enough to fully lean into it. They can try spacing the floor with shooters around him, but they lack the ancillary perimeter talent to consistently maximize Williamson.

Given New Orleans’s wealth of resources over the last half-decade, it’s disappointing it hasn’t constructed a roster more built around Williamson. That might require sacrificing some talent for fit, but the Pelicans will fly as high as Williamson can take them.

Multiple seasons have been ruined by injuries, and Murphy and Murray are already missing games this season. If they stayed healthier, maybe we would have seen a deep Pelicans playoff run by now. But we should expect them to shoot higher than perennial Play-In contention. Hopefully, Missi’s success will help them embrace a consistent identity that leads to more than the occasional first-round exit.