Bryce McGowens already looked like the kind of low-maintenance wing New Orleans could trust. Now, after an offseason built around defense and strength, he may have given new Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley exactly what he wants from a rotation piece.
McGowens said his summer focus was simple: “Really just tightening up everything. Starting with my defense, working on my strength. I think I gained 8 pounds this offseason,” said McGowens.
That matters because the offensive fit was never really the issue. McGowens has shown he can space the floor, make the right read, and keep the ball moving without needing a heavy diet of touches. He was one of last season’s better stories for New Orleans, turning a two-way opportunity into a standard contract spot through steady work and strong play.
The concern has always been on the other end. At times, McGowens could get displaced on the perimeter and had trouble holding up against drives because of his slender frame. If the added weight sticks and the defensive work shows up, that changes the conversation fast.
Last season, McGowens averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 40.9 percent from three on 2.2 attempts per game. He played in 42 games and saw time as both a starter and a reserve.
That kind of production, paired with his shooting, makes him a natural fit for a team that finished with the fewest made threes in the league last season. New Orleans did not address that need in the front office, which only raises McGowens’ value heading into this year.
There is still a catch, though. Under Mosley, offensive specialists usually need to bring something sturdy on defense if they are not creating much off the dribble. That is why the offseason emphasis on strength and technique could be the difference between McGowens being just another body in a crowded room and becoming one of the more trusted bench pieces on the roster.
With Saddiq Bey, Jeremiah Fears, Herb Jones, and Derik Queen ahead of him in that view, McGowens looks like the fifth man off the bench. He has the kind of portable game that travels anywhere: 6-foot-6 size, ball-handling, rebounding, playmaking, finishing, shooting, and now, potentially, real defensive utility.
That versatility gives him a path into just about any lineup New Orleans wants to use. Five-out, defense-first, big, small - McGowens can slide in and fit the shape of the group around him.
The depth chart could have made him easy to overlook for the 2026-27 campaign. Instead, his offseason priorities suggest a player who understands exactly how to stay relevant. If the defense comes along, Mosley should have a hard time leaving him out.
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