The Pelicans’ biggest edge this season might also be the thing that gives Jamahl Mosley the most trouble.
New Orleans is trying to shake off two straight disappointing years, a stretch that produced only 47 wins combined and barely got the team near a playoff spot. That’s the backdrop as the Pelicans head into year one under Mosley, and if they’re going to turn things around, their depth will be right at the center of it.
This roster does not come with the kind of obvious top-end firepower that makes life easy for a coach. The Pelicans don’t have a clear top-15 player in the league or an All-Star duo, even though Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III are both great.
They also don’t look like a team built to light it up from deep and spread defenses thin. And while Mosley earned respect in Orlando for putting together an elite defense, New Orleans doesn’t appear especially loaded on that side either.
What the Pelicans do have is volume. They’ve got 11 or 12 players who could realistically be rotation guys on a lot of teams, and that kind of depth can be a real weapon if Mosley can channel it properly.
But it can cut the other way too. This group is packed with ball-dominant types, and that makes the coaching challenge a major storyline before the season even starts.
For some teams, the pecking order sorts itself out. Stars take the big shots, the lead handler runs the show, shooters space the floor, defenders handle the dirty work, and the role players fill in the gaps.
New Orleans is not that simple. It’s less a clean hierarchy than a crowded room full of players who want to create.
That can work if the pieces complement each other. More players who can put the ball on the floor means more chances to generate offense.
But when too many of those players need the ball and don’t naturally thrive without it, the whole thing gets messy fast. That’s the issue Mosley has to sort through in training camp and preseason.
There’s also a bigger buy-in question. If this team is going to win, some players are going to have to adjust to roles they may not be used to.
Joe Dumars built the roster with a lot of faith in Mosley’s leadership and his ability to create a culture. And based on what Mosley did in Orlando, there’s reason to think he can get a group to commit to a system and accept what the team needs from them.
The starting group should be the easier part. Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray are expected to be the main initiators, with Trey Murphy III as the third creator. Yves Missi and Herb Jones can slot in as the stoppers and finishers who do the work that keeps the group balanced.
The bench is where things get trickier. One of Saddiq Bey, Bennedict Mathurin, Jeremiah Fears, Bryce McGowens, Derik Queen, or Jordan Poole is going to have to commit on defense.
Nobody needs to be Herb Jones, but someone has to be dependable on that end and give the group a positive presence. The same goes for off-ball play.
This second unit can’t be a collection of players who all need the ball in their hands to matter.
Right now, it’s hard to say exactly who will settle into which role. That uncertainty is part of the challenge. If the Pelicans are going to avoid another sub-30-win season in 2026-27, Mosley’s ability to sort out the rotations and define the responsibilities during camp and preseason will be a huge part of the answer.
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Russell's recent play has kept him in the mix for teams looking for shooting and creation, with the Heat, Pelicans and Hornets among the clubs tied to the discussion. No new contract has been confirmed, which leaves the picture unresolved for now and keeps the focus on whether New Orleans decides to explore a fit or stay patient as the market sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Offseason Moves Are Quietly Setting Up A Different Team
The Pelicans offseason has been easy to miss in the wider NBA conversation, but New Orleans has been steadily reshaping the roster with moves that look more practical than flashy. Saddiq Beys three-year, $55 million extension gives the club another long-term piece, while the trade that brought in Benedict Mathurin after dealing Jordan Hawkins and other assets changed the look of the wing group in a more immediate way. Julian Reeses two-way deal rounds out a summer that has been defined less by headlines than by fit.
What stands out is how deliberate the front office has been in treating each addition as part of a broader roster reset. The contracts have drawn favorable reviews for value, and the common thread is that these moves seem aimed at building a different kind of Pelicans team rather than simply adding names to the depth chart. There is still an evaluative order to how the deals stack up, but the larger picture is already clear enough: New Orleans has spent the offseason making subtle changes that could matter a lot once the games start. [Read more 🡒]