The Pelicans are heading to Las Vegas with a Summer League group built less around name recognition and more around opportunity. That’s the point. This is a roster full of former draft picks, productive college players, defensive specialists and a few long-shot prospects all trying to force their way into the conversation for training camp invites, two-way deals or Exhibit 10 contracts.
And for New Orleans, the biggest storyline may be on the sideline. New assistant coach God Shammgod will run the Summer League team, giving the Pelicans an early look at the development style he brings over from Dallas.
Shammgod has built a strong reputation around the league as one of the game’s top skill-development coaches, especially with ball handlers and perimeter players. In Las Vegas, his fingerprints should show up in the way the Pelicans play: pace, ball movement, creativity and confidence.
The roster’s headliner is Kobe Bufkin, the most recognizable name in the group and the player with the clearest NBA pedigree. The former first-round selection comes into Summer League looking to recapture the promise that once made him such a coveted prospect.
At 6-foot-4, Bufkin brings strong body control, solid pick-and-roll feel and the ability to handle either guard spot. The question is whether he can find more consistency as a shooter and playmaker while adding enough strength to deal with NBA physicality.
The upside is still there: a rotation guard with starter potential if the jumper settles in.
There’s plenty of guard play behind him, too. Jaron Pierre Jr. arrives after an impressive season at SMU and gives New Orleans an explosive downhill scorer with size, strength and athleticism.
Jordan Riley, coming off a season in which he averaged more than 23 points per game at East Carolina, brings energy, defensive edge and a fearless approach going to the rim. Markquis Nowell, despite standing just 5-foot-7, remains one of the smartest point guards in the field thanks to his vision, shooting range and ability to push the tempo.
Dominique Daniels Jr. is the microwave scorer of the bunch, a guard whose first step creates instant pressure but whose turnovers and size on defense remain issues. Melvin Council Jr. might be the sleeper in the group after winning Portsmouth Invitational MVP honors, flashing defensive instincts, toughness and efficient decision-making even if the jumper still needs work.
On the wing, the Pelicans have a collection of players who bring energy and a few different paths to value. Micah Peavy is the most experienced NBA player on the roster and could be the closest thing to a steady hand.
His defensive versatility lets him guard multiple spots, and he can create offense through transition and hustle plays. If the shot comes along, he looks like a natural modern three-and-D piece.
Jonny O’Neil is one of the more intriguing developmental bets on the team, a 6-foot-10 player with perimeter skills, shooting touch and rebounding ability. Solomon Washington stands out for his nonstop motor and could become the emotional tone-setter for the second unit with his rebounding and physical defense.
Jalon Moore may be the best athlete on the roster, thriving as a rim runner and weak-side shot blocker while he works to round out the rest of his offensive game. Christian Shumate brings a reputation for toughness and defense after winning multiple conference Defensive Player of the Year awards at McNeese State.
Chris Bell is the shooter to circle, coming off a final college season in which he hit 40 percent from three and profiles as a floor-spacing wing if he can add strength.
The frontcourt group has its own set of auditions. Hunter Dickinson enters as one of the most accomplished college centers in the country, bringing size, polished post scoring, passing and high-level basketball IQ.
The question is whether his defensive mobility can hold up against pro competition. Josh Oduro offers footwork and touch around the basket, while Nate Mensah gives the team rim protection and interior defense with a massive wingspan.
Malik Dia adds strength and physicality, plus the ability to score facing the basket, though his defensive consistency still needs work.
If you’re looking for the names most likely to draw extra attention, the list is easy to narrow down: Bufkin, Dickinson, Council, Bell and Peavy. But the broader point is that this roster is designed to create competition.
New Orleans has several players fighting for the same kind of opening, and every possession in Las Vegas matters because of it. For Joe Dumars and Jamahl Mosley, this is the first real chance to start identifying which of these players can become part of the next wave in New Orleans.
In Other News...
Hunter Dickinson Just Got A Real Chance To Change His Pelicans Future
Hunter Dickinsons path with New Orleans took another small but meaningful step on July 4, when he re-signed a two-way contract and kept his NBA pursuit alive after going undrafted in 2025. Rather than take the overseas route, he stayed in the mix with the Pelicans, giving himself another runway to show he can translate his size and skill into a role at the next level.
His next chance comes in the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where the Pelicans will get a fresh look at how far he has come. Defense, conditioning and three-point shooting will all be part of the evaluation, and for Dickinson, every possession matters as he tries to turn a developmental opportunity into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Summer League Could Reveal What This New Regime Really Wants
The Summer League in Las Vegas is usually where teams sort through fringe roster hopefuls and recent draft picks, but for the Pelicans it arrives with a little more weight this year. Under new executive vice president Joe Dumars, head coach Jamahl Mosley and assistant God Shammgod, the tournament will serve as an early look at how the new regime wants to evaluate young talent, coach on the fly and shape the next layer of the roster.
Kobe Bufkin and Hunter Dickinson are among the most closely watched names, while Melvin Council Jr., Chris Bell, Christian Shumate, Jalon Moore and Malik Dia are all trying to turn summer minutes into something more permanent. The bigger question is what New Orleans values most in those evaluations, because the mix of two-way and roster battles should tell a lot about the direction this front office wants to take, even if the clearest answer does not come until the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Trade Target Could Force A Huge Frontcourt Decision
The Pelicans are weighing a frontcourt move that would bring a very different look to their rotation, one centered on adding a big man who can stretch the floor and protect the rim. For a team trying to balance size, spacing and defensive reliability, that kind of fit is easy to understand, especially when the current roster could use another interior presence who does more than just occupy space near the basket.
Still, the appeal comes with real roster math attached. New Orleans would have to decide how much it is willing to give up to make the numbers work, and there are already questions about whether the player in question gives enough on the glass to justify the investment. The Pelicans have avenues to explore through salary matching and protected draft capital, but any serious pursuit would force them to confront a frontcourt decision that could shape the next few seasons. [Read more 🡒]