New Orleans Pelicans basketball is back, and even in a 105-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday afternoon in Las Vegas, there was plenty to like in the summer league opener.
The Pelicans were missing last year’s standout rookies, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, so this roster had to lean into a different kind of identity. That showed up quickly. New Orleans played with a scrappy edge, and a few players made strong cases for more run as the summer moves along.
Kobe Bufkin set the tone early and looked like the most polished player on the floor. The former Hawks first-round pick came in with the most NBA experience on the roster, and he played like it.
He attacked downhill, hunted mismatches, got to the line, and showed off a nasty pull-up game. Bufkin had 21 points by halftime and finished with 30 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
He also knocked down 5-of-9 from three, which matters because perimeter shooting has been the biggest issue in his NBA career. On top of the scoring, he brought real effort defensively, including a charge taken.
At this stage, he looks like a strong candidate to land at least a two-way deal with the Pelicans after Vegas.
Micah Peavy was right there with him as one of the day’s biggest bright spots. He posted 16 points, three rebounds, five assists, and two steals while bringing elite perimeter defense.
The shooting was the part that stood out most. Peavy went 2-of-4 from deep, and it wasn’t just the makes - it was the confidence.
He never looked hesitant, never looked like he was talking himself into the shot. He played like a catch-and-shoot threat, and if that carries over, he could become a real rotation piece for Jamahl Mosley.
Markquis Nowell also made his presence felt. The 5-foot-7 guard ran the offense well, finished with 20 points, six assists, five threes, and five steals, and kept answering every time the game threatened to get away.
His size will always shape the conversation around his NBA future, but the production was impossible to miss. If he keeps playing like this, some team is going to give him an NBA contract or a two-way deal.
Not everyone had the same kind of afternoon. Hunter Dickinson was the clear disappointment, even though the box score - 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists - doesn’t look disastrous.
The problem was everything around it. He got beat on the opening tip, committed an illegal screen right away, and never really settled in.
Minnesota big man Joan Beringer exposed his lack of athleticism, and Dickinson’s issues on the glass were a major problem in a game where New Orleans gave up 17 offensive rebounds. For a player with that much college experience, the awareness just wasn’t there.
There were also a few players who deserved more than the minutes they got. Jaron Pierre Jr. logged only 11 minutes despite being New Orleans’ only draft pick from the 2026 class, and that felt light. He shot 1-of-5, but the effort and competitive fire were obvious, and more time could help him get into a rhythm and show more of the scoring ability he flashed at SMU.
Jalon Moore was another name worth watching. Coming off an Achilles injury that kept him out for over a year, he looked active from the jump and was all over the glass.
He had the game’s best highlight with a monster dunk and finished with two points, six rebounds, and one assist while shooting 1-of-6. The rust showed in the numbers, but the energy was there.
Malik Dia should get another look too. The 6-foot-9 frontcourt player brings a different kind of skill set, with a tight handle and a willingness to take jumpers.
In nearly 12 minutes, he scored six points on 3-of-6 shooting and added three rebounds. He may or may not be an NBA player right now, but he was intriguing enough to warrant more minutes when the Pelicans face the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday at 3 p.m.
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