The New Orleans Pelicans are heading into the 2026 season with a lot still unresolved. They want to chase a playoff spot, they need to keep developing young talent, and they still haven’t put together back-to-back 30-win seasons. On top of that, the roster didn’t change much, which leaves a familiar question hanging over everything: who actually moves the needle?
There’s talent here. That much is clear. But if the Pelicans are going to flip the script this year, a few key pieces have to hit.
Zion Williamson sits at the center of it all. He has been the franchise’s defining variable ever since New Orleans drafted him, and the results have gone both ways for years. The encouraging sign now is that Williamson appears to have matured and is treating this offseason with more seriousness than ever.
At 26, he already got his health back on track last season and showed he could stay on the floor for most of the year, something he’s managed in only three of his seven seasons since being drafted. The next step is obvious: expand the offensive package. If Williamson starts leaning into more range and finally brings in the mid-range looks he’s been working on for years, the ceiling changes.
Bennedict Mathurin is the other major swing factor. He was the only meaningful addition New Orleans made this offseason, which puts a lot on his shoulders right away. The front office clearly likes him and will be watching closely to see whether he can do enough to earn an extension once money opens up next offseason.
Mathurin is not a finished product, but he gives the Pelicans another scorer, and they need that. Last season, he averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 43.0/31.5/86.9. The three-point shot isn’t always there, but there were plenty of nights when New Orleans would have welcomed exactly the kind of production he can bring.
The final piece is the coaching staff. A big reason for optimism is the belief that this group can unlock something the last one couldn’t. Joe Dumars has already said he wanted a tougher team, and the answer was to bring in one of the best defensive staffs in the league.
There’s a blueprint for that kind of turnaround, too. The Orlando Magic were rebuilding when they first got this staff, and the early results were rough. It didn’t take long after that for them to become a perennial playoff team.
New Orleans is starting from a better place than Orlando did then. Even with the flaws on this roster, the Pelicans may be able to skip a few steps if the staff gets this group pointed in the right direction.
In Other News...
Pelicans Just Made A Roster Move With Bigger Implications
The Pelicans are making another quiet move that says plenty about where the front office is headed. New Orleans has agreed to send Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick and a second-round swap to Memphis in exchange for AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson, a deal built around trimming payroll rather than reshaping the rotation. It is the kind of transaction that often looks minor on the surface but can open the door to much bigger business when a team is working around the edges of the salary sheet.
In this case, the goal is clear: stay under the luxury tax line while finishing a contract with Bennedict Mathurin. The Grizzlies can still use trade exceptions and salary guarantees to make the numbers work, and there is no immediate clarity on whether Hawkins or Peavy will actually stick with Memphis once the dust settles. For New Orleans, though, the larger implication is obvious - this is the sort of move teams make when every dollar matters and one more roster decision is still hanging out there. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Just Made A Backcourt Move Fans Will Want To Judge
The Pelicans have been active in reshaping the roster, and the latest move sends Jordan Hawkins to Memphis in a deal that also brings Micah Peavy, a second-round pick and a pick swap back to New Orleans. It is the kind of transaction that can look minor on the surface but usually says plenty about where a front office thinks it stands, especially when cap space and roster balance are part of the equation.
For the Pelicans, the trade clears room while adding a little extra draft flexibility, a sensible enough objective for a team trying to keep its options open. Memphis, meanwhile, gets a young player with potential and some added backcourt depth, which is the sort of return that can look smarter over time if the fit is right. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Have The Pieces On Offense But One Problem Keeps Undercutting It
The Pelicans showed last season they can create offense in ways that travel well in almost any game. They were productive around the rim and dangerous in transition, the kind of team that can put pressure on a defense before it gets set and still score once the floor is packed. From an identity standpoint, that gives New Orleans a clear starting point, because the pieces to play with pace and attack the paint are already there.
Still, the broader problem was never just about putting points on the board. New Orleans defensive issues, especially in the paint and on opponent three-point chances, kept dragging the whole operation down and fed into a losing record. If the Pelicans are going to turn those offensive strengths into something more sustainable, they need cleaner defensive habits and better ball movement to support the kind of offensive identity that actually holds up over a full season. [Read more 🡒]