Pelicans exercise fourth-year option on center Yves Missi
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The gist
The New Orleans Pelicans exercised a fourth-year option on center Yves Missi worth $5.60 million for 2027-28.
The move locks in their projected starting center ahead of Wednesday's season opener.
Background
Yves Missi is a New Orleans Pelicans center drafted 21st overall out of Baylor in 2024 and voted to the second team of the NBA All-Rookie team. The Pelicans, whose basketball operations are led by executive vice president Joe Dumars, exercised options on three recent All-Rookie selections at once, keeping Missi, guard Jeremiah Fears and forward/center Derik Queen under contract for 2027-28. The decisions came with Missi projected as the club's starting center this season.
How it unfolded
- Oct 14, 2026Missi posted 6 points, 9 rebounds, one steal and four blocks in a Pelicans preseason win over the Mavericks and gave a postgame interview.
- Oct 20, 2026The Pelicans announced they had exercised a fourth-year option on Missi and third-year options on Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
- Oct 21, 2026Reports confirmed Missi's option is worth $5.60 million for 2027-28; New Orleans also picked up Fears ($8.27M) and Queen ($5.67M) and declined AJ Johnson's $5.49M option.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- RotoWire, NBC Sports, AP and NOLA.com all describe Missi as the Pelicans' expected starting center this season, with NBC Sports noting his starting role looks secure despite Derik Queen coming off the bench.