Summer League is back on Thursday, and the Pelicans will get their first live run of the offseason with a group that gives New Orleans plenty to evaluate over the next couple of weeks.
The biggest names fans might have wanted to see - Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears - won’t be part of the Vegas tournament. Newly hired head coach Jamahl Mosley said both players logged heavy workloads during last season, with each appearing in 82 and 81 games, respectively, so their next look will come in preseason.
Even without them, this stretch matters. Summer League is where players can stack real reps against outside competition and give the Pelicans more film to sort through when the front office is deciding who belongs on the roster and who might be fighting for a two-way deal.
One of the more intriguing names is Micah Peavy, who often gets overlooked with Queen and Fears drawing most of the attention. The former Georgetown forward appeared in 61 games last season and flashed late, scoring at least 20 points in two of his final three games after his previous season high had been 17.
He’s already known as a tough perimeter defender, but the question hanging over him is whether the shot will come around. Peavy hit just 25% from three last season, so that part of his game will be front and center.
There’s also a bigger-picture angle with Peavy. Herb Jones has been the subject of trade rumors for the last couple of seasons, and the former Alabama standout has missed 88 games over the past two years because of major injuries. If Peavy can make a real jump as a scorer while holding up defensively, he could eventually become the kind of wing option New Orleans needs if Jones is moved down the line.
Another player worth watching is second-round pick Jaron Pierre, Jr., who gets to wear his hometown team’s jersey for the first time. The New Orleans native brings a lot of energy with his athleticism and scoring touch.
In his lone season at SMU, he averaged 17 points and shot 37% from three. The Pelicans have found value in the second round before with players like Jones, Karlo Matkovic, and Peavy, and Pierre, Jr. will be trying to join that list.
New Orleans does have a crowded mix of guards and forwards, but there’s a belief around the team that a frontcourt move could still be coming. That could leave the door open for Pierre, Jr., but he’ll need a strong Summer League to make that case.
Kobe Bufkin is another name with plenty on the line. Once a mid-first round pick, injuries have slowed his career badly.
The former Michigan guard played only 27 games across his first two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks before Atlanta traded him to the Brooklyn Nets, who waived him. He spent most of last season in the G League and earned All-NBA G League Second Team honors after averaging 25.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists for the South Bay Lakers.
Bufkin’s size and injury history are real concerns, but Summer League gives him a chance to change the conversation. A strong showing could help him land a two-way contract or even push for a final roster spot somewhere. The biggest thing to watch is the jumper, because through two and a half NBA seasons, he has shot just 21% from deep.
The Pelicans open against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday and then face the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.
In Other News...
Pelicans Just Cleared A Bigger Frontcourt Opportunity Than Fans Realize
The Pelicans have quietly opened a bigger frontcourt lane than it first appeared, and Karlo Matkovic is one of the main beneficiaries. New Orleans kept the young forward in the fold for next season, while veteran center Kevon Looney is now gone after landing with the Lakers, leaving the roster leaning even harder on its younger bigs.
Matkovic gave the front office a reason to believe last season, when his shooting took a noticeable step forward and his efficiency fit what the Pelicans want around their core. With the team still thin up front and relatively quiet this offseason, his minutes should be easier to come by, which makes his development one of the more interesting subplots heading into camp. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Suddenly Face A Familiar Frontcourt Decision
Jonas Valanciunas is back on the market after his release from the Denver Nuggets, and that alone is enough to put New Orleans in familiar territory. The veteran center spent time with the Pelicans before, giving them steady production in the paint and on the glass, and his track record in the role is exactly why his name is already surfacing again as the frontcourt picture gets sorted out.
For a team that has spent plenty of time weighing size, rebounding and lineup balance, Valanciunas represents a straightforward kind of solution. The fit makes sense on paper because he could come in as a relatively affordable option, but there has been no official agreement yet, leaving the Pelicans with another frontcourt decision to monitor as the market develops. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Opener May Have Changed The Race For Roster Spots
The Pelicans summer league opener against Minnesota offered an early look at which young players might separate themselves in the scramble for roster spots, even in a 105-92 loss. Kobe Bufkin led the way with 30 points and gave New Orleans the kind of two-way activity teams want to see from an experienced player trying to establish himself in Vegas.
Micah Peavy also helped his case with a confident shooting night and active perimeter defense, while Markquis Nowell kept the offense organized and flashed the kind of playmaking that can matter in a crowded evaluation setting. Hunter Dickinson, meanwhile, did not help his own push for a role, leaving the Pelicans with at least a few clear winners from a game that may carry more weight than the final score suggests. [Read more 🡒]