The Pelicans have spent the last couple of years giving their fan base very little to hang onto, but Bryce McGowens has quietly become one of the more interesting reasons to pay attention.
New Orleans has been sliding since its 49-win season in 2023-24, the second-most in franchise history. Since then, the roster has been reshaped with the departures of Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, along with the exit of former head coach Willie Green.
The results have been ugly: back-to-back seasons under 30 wins, including a 26-win campaign last year. So while the outside view is heavy on skepticism, the organization is hoping the coaching change brings a cleaner future.
Jamahl Mosley arrives in a familiar kind of situation, stepping into a struggling team with the job of turning it into a consistent winner, much like he did with the Orlando Magic more than five seasons ago.
Mosley does have pieces to work with. Zion Williamson is still there as a two-time All-Star, Trey Murphy III gives the roster shooting, and there are other young players with upside. McGowens belongs in that next tier - not a headline name, but a player who has already shown he can help.
His path to this point has been anything but direct. McGowens came to New Orleans on a two-way flyer and eventually earned a multi-year standard NBA contract.
The 6-foot-6 guard was a second-round pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves before being sent to the Charlotte Hornets. As a rookie, he spent most of his time moving between the G League and Charlotte, then carved out more meaningful minutes late in the year.
The former Nebraska standout stayed with the Hornets the following season and played a career-high 59 games before being waived. Portland then brought him in on a two-way deal, but a rib fracture cut that stint short.
He finally found a real landing spot with the Pelicans. Last season, the South Carolina native posted career highs in points, minutes, rebounds, and assists while shooting 40.9% from three and starting 13 games. After New Orleans traded backup point guard Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks, the team rewarded McGowens with a three-year, $6.2 million deal.
He’s not being asked to be a shot creator who bends a defense on his own. The value is in the details.
New Orleans needs shooting, and McGowens flashed enough of it to matter. SimulNBA tracked him at 46.7% from deep on open threes, and spot-up chances made up 43% of his offensive diet.
That fits the Pelicans’ shape, especially with downhill drivers like Zion Williamson and Derik Queen needing space to attack.
McGowens also took care of the ball, finishing with a 4.7% turnover ratio. Defense against top-tier opponents is still a work in progress, but his assignment in this rotation is clear: hit open shots, keep the ball moving, and avoid mistakes. If his outside shooting has taken another step, New Orleans may have found a low-cost rotation piece who can matter in the right moments.
For a team trying to reset, that kind of player matters. McGowens fits the language the Pelicans want to hear - belief, accountability, execution, and playing the right way. That could make him a useful bench option for Mosley going forward.
In Other News...
Pelicans Just Added A New Concern For Jeremiah Fears And Derik Queen
The Pelicans have added another layer to their backcourt and wing mix by bringing in Bennedict Mathurin on a two-year contract, a move that gives the roster a proven scorer who likes to pressure the rim. For a team trying to balance immediate production with long-term growth, it is the kind of signing that can help in the short term while quietly changing the developmental path for younger players already carving out roles.
Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen both turned in strong rookie seasons, but Mathurins ball-dominant style could naturally trim some of the on-ball chances that helped them grow. How much that matters may depend on Jamahl Mosley, whose track record with young talent offers some reason to think the Pelicans can still keep the minutes and touches flowing, even with a more established attacker now in the mix. [Read more 🡒]