Joe Dumars’ first offseason in charge of the New Orleans Pelicans has been defined more by what didn’t happen than by any big splash. The roster is basically intact, with 14 of the 15 players from last season expected back after a 26-win campaign. In that kind of quiet summer, one player suddenly looms much larger than the rest: Jordan Poole.
The Pelicans bet on Poole as the most intriguing addition of the offseason, bringing in a guard coming off a career year with the Washington Wizards. At the time, he looked like a better fit for New Orleans’ younger timeline than CJ McCollum and a worthwhile upside swing for the front office.
But the fit never really clicked. Poole finished with 13.4 points and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 37.2 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three.
That was a steep drop from his 2024-25 production in Washington, when he averaged 20.5 points per game and hit 37.8 percent of his threes on more than nine attempts a night.
For a Pelicans team that didn’t do much to reshape the roster, Poole’s ability to rebound may end up mattering more than almost anything else. New Orleans clearly needs more shot creation, especially from a guard who can manufacture offense when the clock is bleeding down and the possession is stuck. That was one of the biggest holes last season, and if Poole finds his rhythm again, he can fill it.
His first year in New Orleans came with complications. He opened the season as the starting point guard while Dejounte Murray was still out, and that was a heavy ask.
Poole never looked fully comfortable in that spot, and his role shrank as the season went on. That opened the door for Jeremiah Fears to break out and also positioned Poole for a more manageable role going forward.
Now the setup looks much cleaner. With Murray and Fears both able to handle lead guard duties, Poole doesn’t have to carry the offense.
He can settle into a lower-pressure role and, more importantly, come off the bench as a sparkplug. That’s the kind of job he has handled well before, including during his breakout and championship run with the Warriors.
If he can rediscover that version of himself, the Pelicans may have found the one move from a quiet offseason that actually changes the conversation. In a crowded Western Conference, that kind of bounce-back could be enough to lift New Orleans back into the mix.
In Other News...
Former Pelicans Big Josh Oduro Just Took His Next Career Step
Josh Oduros path since leaving college has been the kind of winding pro journey that many young bigs know well, with stops in the G League and a brief look with New Orleans on a two-way contract. He got into three games for the Pelicans, giving the organization a short but useful glimpse of his size and energy before his next opportunity came into focus.
Now Oduro is headed overseas for a fresh start, and the move puts him in position to keep building his game in a different setting. He said he is excited about joining Melbourne United and being part of a group that includes Joe Ingles and Luke Travers, a reminder that the next step in a career does not always come in the usual place. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Defensive Legacy Just Got National Love And Fans Will Notice Who Didn't
A national look at the NBAs defensive greats ended up shining a surprisingly bright light on New Orleans past. Bleacher Reports list of the 99 best defensive players in league history included seven former Pelicans or Hornets, a reminder that this franchise has long been home to some of the sports most disruptive stoppers, from DeAndre Jordan and Tyson Chandler to Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, Chris Paul, Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis.
For a team that has tried to build its identity around toughness on that end of the floor, the recognition is a useful nod to the standard that has already been set. Holiday and Davis drew especially notable placement among the honored names, underscoring just how much defensive credibility has passed through New Orleans over the years, even as fans will naturally notice the current rosters most prominent defender was left waiting for his own place in that conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Cant Keep Dodging This Saddiq Bey Decision
Saddiq Beys future has quietly become one of the more important decisions on the Pelicans calendar, and the clock is already ticking toward an October 23 extension deadline. New Orleans has done little to reshape the roster this offseason beyond the coaching change, which leaves the front office weighing whether Bey fits as part of the next core after a strong comeback season following his ACL injury.
Beys recent production should at least give the Pelicans something to think about, because he looked far closer to the player they hoped they were getting than the one who was sidelined in 2024-25. At the same time, his value around the league may be rising, and New Orleans still has a glaring need in the middle, so the choice is not simply about keeping a useful wing around. [Read more 🡒]