The New Orleans Pelicans are heading into training camp with a starting five that could look familiar on opening night, even with a new coaching staff in place. Media day is coming up, players report next week, and there’s still room for movement, but the early read points to a lineup built around defense, size, and a few clear priorities.
At point guard, Dejounte Murray looks like the safest bet to be in the first group. It would be a major surprise if he weren’t there when the season starts.
Murray brings the kind of two-way value this staff has emphasized all offseason, and that matters especially with the team leaning hard into defense. Jeremiah Fears is a name to watch in camp, but Murray gives New Orleans its best chance to compete right away.
Trey Murphy also feels locked into a starting role. The Pelicans weren’t interested in letting other teams pry him away this summer, and that’s because they want him as a centerpiece.
The comparison isn’t exact, but there’s a chance he functions alongside Zion Williamson in a role similar to what Mosley and his staff had with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. Murphy’s numbers back up the importance: 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 47.0/37.9/88.6.
Another step forward could put him on an All-Star path.
Herbert Jones fits the vision too. He brings the defensive edge this group wants, and when he’s right, he’s been the emotional anchor of the roster.
The concern is straightforward: the last two seasons have brought injury trouble and rough shooting from deep. If he steadies those areas, he becomes even more valuable in this setup.
Zion Williamson remains the central force at power forward. The big positive from last season was his health, and the next step is keeping that trend going while adding a little more variety to his offensive package.
Even without a reliable mid-range game, he should still be devastating around the basket. Better spacing around him would only make that easier.
The final spot goes to Yves Missi, at least to begin the year. That position has some debate around it, but the defensive direction of the team makes him the cleanest fit. Derik Queen could make a push in camp and force the issue, but Missi already offers rim protection and should keep improving as a rebounder.
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The projection still points to a productive year ahead, with ESPN expecting Williamson to post 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists. But the bigger picture is harder to ignore: he has not been an All-Star since 2023, and the league seems increasingly focused on whether his paint scoring can outweigh the concerns about spacing and defensive impact enough to keep him safely in top-50 territory. [Read more 🡒]
Trendon Watford Faces A Pelicans Battle He Has To Win
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The pressure points are easy to spot. Watford still needs to tighten up his rebounding and become more consistent from three-point range, and those are the kinds of details that matter when roster spots and minutes are up for grabs. His partially guaranteed deal means nothing is settled yet, so camp will be more than a tune-up for him. It is a battle for security, one he has to win before the Pelicans can count on him as anything more than a candidate. [Read more 🡒]