New Orleans Pelicans 2025 Offseason Recap
the new orleans pelicans shook things up this offseason—drafting, trading, and signing with total intent. here’s everything you need to know about their bold moves heading into the 2025–26 season:
aggressive front-office overhaul
joe dumars stepped in and set the tone, embracing a “win-now” mindset despite clear rebuilding signs.
trades & veteran signings
traded cj mccollum and kelly olynyk to the wizards in exchange for jordan poole and saddiq bey—adding scoring punch and youth to the lineup.
also grabbed kevon looney on a two-year, $16 million deal—bringing championship experience and leadership.
high-stakes draft night decisions
acquired a second 2025 first-round pick from the pacers (no. 23) for a 2026 pick.
used no. 7 to draft point guard jeremiah fears, then moved up to no. 13 by trading the 23rd pick and an unprotected 2026 first for center derik queen.
skepticism & fallout
analysts blasted the queen trade as excessively risky, even branding it “one of the five dumbest trades of this decade.”
espn gave the pelicans an “f” grade for the offseason, highlighting the overcrowded frontcourt and loss of future draft flexibility.
what this means going forward
with bold moves and few safety nets, new orleans is manufacturing change—but is the future bright or perilous? from veteran presence to rookie potential, the stage is set for a make-or-break season.
#pelicans #nbaoffseason #neworleanspelicans #pelicansoffseason #nbafreeagency #nbadraft #derikqueen #jeremiahfears #jordanpoole #kevonlooney
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