The New Orleans Pelicans have significantly changed the dynamic of their roster this offseason with the addition of All-Star and All-Defensive team member Dejounte Murray and a new focus on their young core, setting the stage for a potential playoff run.
Last year’s season essentially ended due to the injury of star Zion Williamson during the Play-In Tournament game against the Los Angeles Lakers, and their postseason hopes spiraled out of control from there.
After losing to the Lakers, the Pelicans claimed the 8th seed and were matched up against the 57-win, 1st-seed Thunder. With Williamson absent, Brandon Ingram was held to 14 PPG on 35 FG%, and the Thunder’s young core ran the Pelicans through the gutter. The Pelicans were swept in four games.
However, something positive did come out of the 2023-24 season. The Pelicans’ “big three” of Williamson, Ingram, and CJ McCollum finally played a decent amount of games together. Unfortunately, it became apparent that a first-round playoff exit was actually the team’s ceiling, and seeing how the Pelicans’ core wasn’t working out, the Pelicans’ Executive Vice President, David Griffin, opted to make a big move.
Dejounte Murray with Zion and Herb Jones (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
The Pelicans traded for Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray, sending a package of Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., Cody Zeller, and two unfavorable first-round picks in exchange.
In the eyes of the Pelicans and many fans, this trade was an absolute win. Nance and Zeller are easily replaceable backup centers, and Jordan Hawkins can pick up Daniels’s offensive minutes, giving him some much-needed opportunity to develop.
According to Griffin, the Murray trade had been in discussion before the 2023 trade deadline; however, the Atlanta Hawks wanted defensive stud Herb Jones to be included, so the Pelicans declined.
It is unknown what the true reason is for the Hawks’ settlement for not getting Jones, but it’s mainly believed that they did this after getting the first pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and selecting Zaccharie Risacher.
With the addition of Murray, the Pelicans will finally have a true point guard who is used to defending stars and getting the ball into the hands of his teammates. His presence will not only lower the number of turnovers per game for the Pelicans, but it will also fix their sluggish offense by setting up scorers like McCollum, Williamson, and Ingram while also adding strength to their already amazing defense. Last season, Murray averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, and unlike some Pelicans’ starters, he is not a liability on defense.
In fact, Murray has more steals than any NBA player in the last five years, according to StatMuse.com.
However, this move came with some consequences, as the acquisition of Murray’s contract forced the Pelicans to lose their starting center, Jonas Valunciunas, and some of their depth to free agency.
To compensate for some lost size at the center spot, the Pelicans drafted Baylor center Yves Missi with the 21st pick. As a 6’11 mobile big man with arguably the best shot-blocking skills in his draft class, Missi is a perfect fit for the Pelicans.
According to Saint Paul’s junior Luca Rodas, “Missi’s defense coming into the league will already be elite, and if he can get 20 minutes a game, his presence will surely make an impact for the Pelicans defense.”
Yvess Missi Dunking on Robert Jones (Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)
The only concern with Missi is that he has only played organized basketball for the last three years; however, Griffin isn’t worried about this. “The speed with which he picks things up is incredible. When you look at an athlete with his size and the way he tested for us here, the things he’s physically capable of are very rare,” said de facto general manager David Griffin.
Even with the addition of Missi, the Pelicans were still short at the center spot, so they signed center Daniel Theis, who previously played as mainly a reserve for the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers. Theis, who averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game off the bench, was signed with the intention to be a backup center; however, if the Pelicans front office doesn’t think Missi can handle the number of minutes he would get as a starter, then Theis would most likely start over him playing 15 to 20 minutes a game. Regardless, Theis and Missi provide a solid combination of experience and youth.
Other notable free agency signings include Trey Jemison, a center who averaged 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on 55 FG%; Javonte Green, a wing who averaged 12.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game over 9 games; and PF Karlo Matkovic, who averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds per game in the G League.
The Pelicans also re-signed forward Matt Ryan, who, according to Saint Paul’s junior Evan Vanderbrook, is “potentially the Pelicans best three-point shooter.” “Ryan wasn’t given enough time to showcase his skills, but if he gets the opportunity, he will prove that he deserves the minutes,” said Vanderbrook.
The Pelicans also drafted Kentucky wing Antonio Reeves with the 47th overall pick, who will fit right in alongside Jordan Hawkins as a second-stringer.
Despite all the new additions to their roster, the Pelicans’ future and success still hinges on one factor: Williamson’s health.
Zion Williamson in the Play-in Tournament Game (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
When healthy, Williamson is an unstoppable force of destruction that rips through defenders; however, injuries continue to hold him back. In the past he has had many injury problems due to his weight getting in the way. The hope is that all changes this year.
After sustaining a left hamstring strain in the Play-In Tournament game against the Lakers, Williamson started working out at the gym. After being spotted at his training camp, he looked like a different person than the Williamson fans saw during the In-Season Tournament.
Image of Zion Williamson after weight loss (D. Green/Youtube)
According to his step-father, Lee Anderson, “Zion has slimmed down to 281 pounds, with a goal to reach 272 pounds by the start of the season.” This means that Williamson weighs four pounds less than he did in college, arguably his most athletic era. Fans should expect a faster and less injury-prone Williamson. Williamson has also stated that he’s “out for straight vengeance” this season, which can only mean good things for the Pelicans.
With Williamson’s improved fitness and the promising new additions to the roster, fans have reasons to be optimistic about this upcoming season.
On the other hand, the team faces one pressing issue that could impact the futures of both the Pelicans and Ingram. The Pelicans must address the extension of Ingram’s contract before the trade deadline. Ingram expects a four-year, maximum contract of $204 million, which the Pelicans can’t afford to give him due to the salary cap. His expected contract of $52 million annually would be worth more than Joel Embid’s, Nikola Jokic’s, Kevin Durant’s, and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract annually. Ingram has yet to prove that he’s anywhere near these players’ levels and has also failed to prove that he is “that guy” for the Pelicans.
Considering this, the obvious solution would be to trade him, but strangely, teams aren’t interested in him. Normally, teams would jump at the opportunity to pay an All-Star-level wing like Ingram; however, Ingram’s style of play, relying on isolation scoring, can be difficult to build around. In addition, with the upcoming 2025 draft class being so talented, mid-level teams that would typically target a player like Ingram are in tank mode for the chance to land promising top prospect Copper Flag.
Brandon Ingram guarded by Lugentz Dort (Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
Fans should expect Ingram to be in trade talks until the trade deadline, which could either benefit or harm the Pelicans in the long run.
If the Pelicans can develop Missi and avoid injuries, this will be the year they win 50-plus games and make a deep playoff run.
The Pelicans open up the preseason with a game against the Orlando Magic on Oct. 7, 2024.
Pelicans Preseason Schedule (NBA.com)
Photo Credit for Featured Image: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Published By roberthanks2026
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