The New Orleans Pelicans can talk themselves into a lot of things heading into the 2026-27 season. The center spot is one concern, and perimeter shooting is another. But there’s a quieter problem sitting farther down the depth chart that could end up mattering just as much: the backup point guard situation.
The way the roster is currently lined up, Dejounte Murray is expected to open the season as the starter, with Jeremiah Fears behind him. Jordan Poole sits next in line, and while he had a down season in 2025-26, he’s still shown he can create shots and score at a high level.
The trouble is that New Orleans may need more from Poole than he naturally gives. Last season, there were stretches when he struggled to run an offense and handle the playmaking responsibilities that come with being a true point guard.
That wasn’t exactly shocking. In Golden State, he mostly lived off the ball as a scoring guard.
The problem now is that the Pelicans’ roster may not let him stay in that lane.
There isn’t an obvious fix sitting right there either.
Kobe Bufkin could enter training camp as a possible answer for the third-string lead guard role. The former top-15 pick from the Atlanta Hawks was New Orleans’ leading scorer in Las Vegas at Summer League and is trying to work his way back into the league by earning a two-way deal.
Even so, Bufkin brings his own fit issues. He’s a tweener guard, not a natural playmaker and not a reliable enough three-point shooter to slide comfortably into an off-ball job.
On paper, the idea of signing him to handle that third point guard role and freeing Poole up to play more away from the ball makes sense. But that also risks turning Poole into a lesser version of what he already does best when he has the ball.
To be clear, Murray and Fears give New Orleans a strong top two at the position, and plenty of teams get by using only two lead guards most nights. But that assumes perfect health, and that rarely lasts.
Fears is not likely to play 82 games for a second straight season, and Murray has already dealt with enough over the last two years, and even earlier in his career, to expect missed time for rest or the occasional nagging injury. That’s where the Pelicans could really feel the loss of Jose Alvarado.
He was the ideal third guard because he brought energy, pushed the pace, and got the team into its offense. New Orleans no longer has that kind of presence behind Fears and Murray, and over the course of 2026-27, that gap is likely to show up.
In Other News...
Pelicans Core Faces A New Debate As Trey Murphy Keeps Rising
The Pelicans have found themselves with an interesting kind of recognition as the new season approaches, with three players landing on The Ringers top 100 list. Dejounte Murray checks in at No. 89 after a career built on past achievements and a return from injury, while Zion Williamson sits at No. 48 thanks to his leadership and scoring efficiency. It is Trey Murphy, though, who stands out as the fastest-rising name in the group, landing at No. 49 and continuing to build a profile that has grown alongside his shooting efficiency.
Murphys spot just behind Williamson adds a fresh wrinkle to the way New Orleans core is being viewed nationally, especially with the rankings due for an update soon. The Pelicans have long centered their hopes on Williamsons ceiling and Murrays steadying presence, but Murphys ascent suggests the conversation around the roster is no longer only about the established stars. If the list shifts again before opening night, the order of this trio could become one more small measure of how far Murphy has come. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Still Have One Massive Zion Decision Hanging Over Them
Zion Williamson spent the offseason in the familiar center of leaguewide speculation, with rival front offices and fans alike wondering whether New Orleans might eventually explore a different direction. Instead, he remained with the Pelicans, joining a small group of high-profile All-Stars whose names surfaced in trade chatter but never actually changed teams. For New Orleans, that left the focus where it has often been with Williamson: not on what other teams might offer, but on what the organization believes he can still become.
The bigger question now is how long that patience lasts. Williamsons talent has never been in doubt, and the Pelicans have consistently had to weigh his upside against the realities that have followed him from season to season. With the offseason noise quieting down, the organization is still sitting on one of the NBAs most significant decisions, and the lack of movement only makes the next step feel more consequential. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans May Finally Have A Real Chance To Reshape Zions Roster
The Pelicans spent much of this offseason working around an already crowded payroll, which kept their options tighter than they would have liked. Even so, there is a sense around the franchise that next summer could open the door to a much different kind of roster-building exercise, with significantly more room to maneuver than they had this year.
New Orleans expects to clear roughly $40 million from the contracts of Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey, though Bey could still be in line for an extension. That kind of flexibility would give the front office a real chance to chase bigger names in free agency, and players such as Michael Porter Jr. and RJ Barrett are already part of the conversation as the Pelicans look for ways to better shape the roster around Zion Williamson. [Read more 🡒]