The Pelicans still have one roster spot and one two-way deal open, and they’d be smart not to stop shopping just because training camp is getting closer. New Orleans has already brought in a few interesting names to compete for those jobs, but there’s still room to keep digging on the open market.
One obvious place to keep hunting is behind the arc. The Pelicans haven’t really addressed three-point shooting this offseason, and that was a problem last year. They may not find someone who changes the offense by launching eight threes a night, but they can still add a guard who brings spacing and a little scoring punch.
A few free agents fit that lane.
Malachi Smith is one of them. He was a productive college scorer at Chattanooga, where he averaged 19.9 points, then accepted a sixth-man role at Gonzaga as a senior in pursuit of a championship. He went undrafted in 2023 and has spent time developing in the G League since then.
The 26-year-old got his first NBA run with the Brooklyn Nets last season, and he made a case for more. In a 15-game stretch, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists with 0.8 steals per game while shooting 48.5/43.5/1.000. It was a limited look, but it showed enough to keep him on the radar.
Sean Pedulla is another name that makes sense. The Los Angeles Clippers recently cut him loose after adding a more established depth guard, but Pedulla still looks like a player with real value. A two-way deal would make sense here, too.
He barely saw the floor as a rookie in the NBA, but he took over in the G League and earned Rookie of the Year honors. Pedulla averaged 23.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists with 1.2 steals while shooting 41.6/35.5/92.0.
Then there’s Aaron Holiday, the most established of the group. He doesn’t have the same upside as Smith or Pedulla, but he’s a proven bench guard who has carved out a role with the Houston Rockets over the past few years. Across eight seasons, he’s shot 38.4% from three and brings aggressive on-ball defense.
For a Pelicans team that wants to compete this year, Holiday looks like the kind of steady option who could give them better minutes than Jordan Poole or Jordan Hawkins off the bench.
In Other News...
Pelicans Have A 2027 Draft Opportunity Fans Should Already Be Watching
The long view already matters in New Orleans, and one of the more intriguing pieces on the horizon is a first-round pick the Pelicans hold from Milwaukee for the 2027 NBA draft. It is the kind of asset that can quietly shape a franchises next move before most fans are even fully focused on it, especially for a team that has spent plenty of time weighing present-day roster needs against the value of future flexibility.
The early buzz around that draft class is part of what makes the pick worth tracking now, with Kansas forward Tyran Stokes, Arkansas guard Jordan Smith Jr. and Arizona guard Caleb Holt drawing attention as possible high-end targets. Each brings a different profile, and for the Pelicans the appeal is obvious: a chance to land a premium talent at a time when the roster picture could look very different than it does today. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Still Face One Contract Debate As Dejounte Murray Rebounds
Dejounte Murrays standing around the league has changed enough that the Pelicans can at least breathe easier about one of their pricier commitments. Murray was removed from a recent list of the NBAs worst contracts, a small but meaningful development for a New Orleans team trying to sort out its long-term salary picture while keeping enough on hand to compete now. He still has two years left on the deal, including a player option for next season, but the expectation is that hell be part of the rotation and provide real value this season.
Even with that bit of relief, the contract conversation in New Orleans is far from settled. The Pelicans are also focused on building around Jeremiah Favors as the future point guard, which puts a spotlight on how the roster is taking shape beyond Murray. Jordan Pooles expiring contract is another piece of the puzzle, and in some eyes it may end up looking like the teams toughest financial question if the season doesnt go the right way. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Quiet Offseason Puts Dumars And This Roster Under Pressure
Joe Dumars made it clear the Pelicans were active behind the scenes this offseason, saying the front office had plenty of trade conversations but never found a deal that truly improved the team enough to justify pulling the trigger. For a roster that has now gone through back-to-back seasons with fewer than 30 wins, the lack of movement stands out, especially with most of the core still in place and Jamahl Mosley arriving as the new head coach to try to steer a group that has not met expectations.
The bigger issue for New Orleans is what comes next. Dumars comments suggest patience for now, but they also leave the franchise in a familiar spot, stuck between wanting to compete and needing real change to get there. With the offseason largely quiet and the roster mostly intact, the Pelicans enter the year with a new coach, an experienced executive making the calls and an open question about whether the next decisive move is still coming. [Read more 🡒]