The Pelicans’ addition of Bennedict Mathurin has already pushed the conversation toward the next move, and one idea is starting to look obvious: Jordan Hawkins could be the odd man out.
According to Siegel, the cleanest path would be to move Hawkins, which would help clear both the roster logjam and the cap issues that come with it. As Siegel wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “The logical move here would be for the Pelicans to dump Jordan Hawkins somewhere, which would instantly solve everything for them - cap problems & roster crunch. Seems like a matter of time before such a move becomes official,”
That would not come out of nowhere. Hawkins has given New Orleans solid production across three seasons, averaging 8.0 points while shooting 37.4% from the field and 34.8% from 3-point range. With that kind of résumé, he would not be a hard sell if the Pelicans decide to act soon.
Mathurin’s arrival changes the wing picture for New Orleans in a big way. He joins a group that already includes Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, while the backcourt mix also features guards like Dejounte Murray and Jeremiah Fears. How all of that fits together will be one of the more interesting questions for the Pelicans.
Mathurin comes in after averaging 17.4 points per game in 26 games for the Los Angeles Clippers last season.
New Orleans is also entering a new era under head coach Jamahl Mosley, and the hope is clear: a better season than last year. With the talent on the roster and Mosley’s experience, the Pelicans have a shot to chase a playoff spot, though the road through the Western Conference is not going to be easy.
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Pelicans Face A Costly Decision In Push To Land Bennedict Mathurin
The Pelicans have spent much of the offseason looking for another young scoring piece, and Bennedict Mathurin has emerged as a name to watch. The restricted free agent is reportedly weighing a sign-and-trade route to New Orleans, where the Pelicans are said to be the primary suitors, giving them a possible path to add a dynamic wing without waiting for the market to cool.
New Orleans, though, would have to make room to get it done, and that is where the decision gets tricky. Creating the necessary salary cap space could mean moving Jordan Hawkins, a cost the Pelicans would have to weigh against the appeal of landing Mathurin, while Mathurin is also considering the qualifying offer from the Los Angeles Clippers, leaving the situation very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans May Have Found A Scoring Steal But One Move Still Looms
Bennedict Mathurin is set to bring a fresh scoring jolt to New Orleans after agreeing to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Pelicans that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. The move comes after the Clippers are expected to withdraw their qualifying offer, which clears the way for Mathurin to join the Pelicans as an unrestricted free agent following a season in which he averaged 17.6 points per game.
Now the focus shifts to the roster mechanics. New Orleans is expected to clear a spot to make the signing official, and while that part is usually more housekeeping than headline, it can still shape the rest of the summer. The Pelicans have their scoring addition lined up, but one move still needs to be made before the fit is complete. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Have One Big Derik Queen Decision They Can't Get Wrong
The Pelicans are already looking ahead to a frontcourt decision that could shape their 2026-27 season, and Derik Queen sits at the center of it. New Orleans has to sort through what the center spot should look like as Queen develops, but the bigger question is how best to use him with Zion Williamson in a way that actually helps the team grow instead of cluttering the lane.
The case for bringing Queen off the bench is rooted in fit as much as patience. He and Williamson share enough stylistic overlap to make a starting pairing awkward, and last season the two were not a strong combination on the floor together. Giving Queen the second unit would let him get more comfortable in a setup built around his own game, while also giving the Pelicans a cleaner look at how he can become part of a rotation that works. [Read more 🡒]