The New Orleans Pelicans still have one roster spot to fill, but the margin for error is thin. Money is tight, the best free agents are mostly gone, and while a trade could still happen this offseason, nothing is locked in. That leaves the Pelicans with one more signing to make before the season, or a wait-and-see approach until the deadline.
With that in mind, the pool of realistic options has narrowed to a few names, including a pair of in-house possibilities and a few veterans who could still fit what New Orleans needs.
One internal route is Jaron Pierre Jr., the No. 58 overall pick in the draft. At that range, the Pelicans could keep him on the roster or steer him toward a two-way deal.
Right now, the safer path would probably be a little more seasoning with the Laketown Squadron before he becomes a full-time NBA player. His Summer League run hinted at real scoring ability, but it also showed he can be inefficient and still has some catching up to do.
Another wing option is Matisse Thybulle, a player who lines up with the kind of addition New Orleans had been targeting before the Los Angeles Lakers took Ziaire Williams. Thybulle brings the kind of three-and-D profile that can patch holes in more than one spot.
The 29-year-old isn’t loaded offensively, but his three-point shot has improved and his defense remains the calling card. Last season, the Portland Trail Blazers were 11.8 points better on defense per 100 possessions with Thybulle on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass.
If the Pelicans want more help up front, Nick Richards is on the board. New Orleans already added DeAndre Jordan this offseason, and Jordan was with the team last year, but the frontcourt still needs more size.
Richards wouldn’t bring much versatility, yet he would add physicality and rebounding. In 14.6 minutes per game last season, he averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds, and his rebound rate still ranked among the NBA’s best for big men.
He would address a need that Derik Queen and Yves Missi don’t really solve.
Trendon Watford is the most multi-purpose name in the group. At 6-foot-9, he can handle the ball, run the point and defend multiple positions.
He posted 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. The issue is fit.
Watford doesn’t space the floor, and New Orleans was already one of the worst shooting teams in the league last season. The Pelicans can’t really afford to add more wings or guards who can’t shoot, even if they like the versatility.
They would prefer another big who can stretch the floor, but that kind of player is harder to find.
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Lakers Trade Idea Puts Pelicans Fans Right Back In The Herb Jones Debate
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For Pelicans fans, the familiar debate comes right back into focus: is Jones the kind of player you only move for a meaningful return, or is he too important to the roster to entertain anything short of a major offer? New Orleans has already signaled it wants a substantial package in return, which is why this remains more of a thought exercise than a likely deal, but it still underscores how often Jones comes up whenever teams start looking for help on the wing. [Read more 🡒]
Three Pelicans Enter A Season That Could Change Everything
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Zion Williamson sits at the center of it all, because his year carries far more weight than box scores and nightly availability. New Orleans does not need a reminder that his talent can reshape the ceiling of the team, but it does need clarity on what comes next, and this season could decide whether the Pelicans are building around him, extending him, or eventually moving in a different direction altogether. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Fans May Have Overlooked A Familiar Frontcourt Answer
Josh Oduro has already spent time around the Pelicans system, and that familiarity matters for a team still sorting through its frontcourt depth. The 25-year-old forward has seen action with New Orleans G League affiliate and even got into three regular-season NBA games last season, where he showed the kind of rebounding and physical edge that can make a player stand out quickly in a crowded evaluation process.
For a roster that could use reliable size and toughness, Oduros case is straightforward: he knows the organization, he has already played within its style, and he has shown enough in limited minutes to stay on the radar. Among the names coming out of summer league, he looks like a realistic two-way option, even if the final decision still has to sort through a few moving parts. [Read more 🡒]