After making several offseason roster moves, the New Orleans Pelicans enter the 2025-26 season aiming to improve upon their 21-61 record from last year.
The front office, led by new president Joe Dumars, acquired Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole from the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk. The team also signed Kevon Looney to a two-year, $16 million contract.
The Pelicans selected Jeremiah Fears (seventh), Derik Queen (13th) and Micah Peavy (40th) in the 2025 NBA draft. The team traded the No. 23 pick and a 2026 first-round pick to Atlanta to move up to take Queen, a move that was met with heavy criticism.
Behind their recent additions, the team isn’t projected nationally to make much noise this season: They enter training camp with the fifth-lowest odds (plus-15000) of winning the Western Conference in their fifth year under coach Willie Green.
With the team opening training camp on Sept. 24, Rookie Wire examined the Pelicans’ depth chart and offered an early projection of the starters and backups entering the season.
PGJordan Poole: $31,848,215Jose Alvarado: $4,500,000Jeremiah Fears: $7,520,040Dejounte Murray: $30,801,103*
*Expected to miss the start of the season (Achilles)
SGTrey Murphy III: $25,000,000Jordan Hawkins: $4,741,320Micah Peavy: $1,272,870SFHerb Jones: $13,937,574Saddiq Bey: $6,118,644PFZion Williamson: $39,466,090Karlo Matković: $1,955,377CYves Missi: $3,353,040Kevon Looney: $8,000,000Derik Queen: $5,157,960*
*Expected to miss the start of the season (wrist)
Two-Way ContractsTrey AlexanderHunter DickinsonBryce McGowens
Pelicans salary information via Spotrac