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Guide NBA 2025-26: New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are one of the hardest franchises in the NBA to figure out. The team has talent and is well-coached, yet repeatedly manages to disappoint both fans and those who believe they can go far. The Achilles’ heel of the Pelicans in recent seasons has been injuries — and 2024–25 was no […]
The New Orleans Pelicans are one of the hardest franchises in the NBA to figure out. The team has talent and is well-coached, yet repeatedly manages to disappoint both fans and those who believe they can go far. The Achilles’ heel of the Pelicans in recent seasons has been injuries — and 2024–25 was no different.
Pelicans: Everything Went Wrong (again)
The team’s main addition for the season was point guard Dejounte Murray, who was supposed to be the link between Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. However, Murray broke his hand in the very first game of the season and later tore his Achilles tendon, missing the rest of the year starting in February. On top of that, Zion suffered yet another injury-filled season — with muscle and back problems — and played only 30 games. This was compounded by injuries to Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones.
Finally, with all the health issues and poor chemistry, the Pelicans traded Ingram to the Toronto Raptors midway through the season. The forward was yet another player plagued by injuries, managing to appear in just 18 games.
With all that, the team finished with the second-worst record in the West, at 21–61, far from any playoff contention. Perhaps the only highlight of the season came when Zion briefly returned between January and March and put up some impressive individual performances.
Offseason Moves and Analysis
The Pelicans’ offseason was busy, starting with a front-office change: Joe Dumars took over as head of basketball operations. The team also made several moves through trades and the Draft.
On the positive side, they extended Herb Jones for three years and made two solid Draft selections. At pick #7, they chose explosive guard Jeremiah Fears, a strong slasher with great court vision, especially in pick-and-roll situations. Five picks later, they selected center Derik Queen, an excellent one-on-one scorer with elite rebounding potential and upside as a future offensive anchor.
However, the negatives are notable. In the Draft, the Pelicans traded up 10 spots to get Queen by making a deal with the Atlanta Hawks, giving up an unprotected first-round pick in the 2026 Draft. That could prove costly if injuries strike again and the team has another poor season — they might lose a valuable lottery pick.
The Pelicans also traded veterans C.J. McCollum and Kelly Olynyk for Jordan Poole, and lost Bruce Brown in free agency. Coming in are Kevon Looney and Saddiq Bey.
What to Expect Next Season?
The upcoming season is a major question mark. Once again, the Pelicans have talent and depth, but injuries remain an ever-present concern. The two rookies will likely have large roles — which could either elevate the team significantly or keep them near the bottom of the standings if they struggle to adjust.
If Zion and Murray stay healthy, along with contributions from Poole and the rookies, New Orleans could fight for a Play-In spot. However, the margin for error is slim, and given their recent history, it’s more realistic to expect another season spent trying just to improve on last year’s 21 wins.
Player to Watch: Zion Williamson
The answer is obvious — Zion must respond to all the criticism he received last season. For the first time in his career, there were rumors that the Pelicans might trade him and move on. However, Joe Dumars publicly backed the star forward and confirmed that he’ll get another chance.
Now, Zion must prove himself and stay healthy. Last season, he played only 30 games. In contrast, in 2023–24, he played 70 games, and the Pelicans won 49.
Key to Success: Health
As we’ve seen, the roster has talent and could get even better if the rookies perform well. Head coach Willie Green has already shown he can lead effectively when given a healthy roster. However, if Zion and company spend more time in the training room than on the court, New Orleans could once again end up with one of the worst records in the league.
