NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The New Orleans Pelicans will begin NBA Summer League play Thursday in Las Vegas, but the biggest intrigue may be who is not on the floor.
Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears are not on the Pelicans’ Summer League roster after both played major minutes during the 2025-26 season. That leaves this summer stage for a different group of young players, including Micah Peavy, Jaron Pierre Jr. and Kobe Bufkin.
The Pelicans open against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The game will air locally on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network.
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Assistant coach God Shammgod will coach the Summer League team.
For New Orleans, the next week is less about wins and more about evaluation. Summer League gives teams a closer look at rookies, two-way candidates, recent draft picks and players trying to force their way into training camp conversations.
Peavy may have the most direct path to changing his role. The second-year wing appeared in 61 games for New Orleans last season and showed flashes late in the year, including two 20-point games over the final stretch. His defense has been his calling card, but his outside shooting remains the piece that could determine how much larger his role becomes.
Boston guard Jaylen Brown drives to the basket against Micah Peavy (14) during the Celtics’ 144-118 victory Friday (April 10). (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)(Charles Krupa | AP)
Peavy shot 25% from 3-point range last season. If that number begins to climb, the Pelicans could have another defensive wing option to develop behind Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III.
Pierre gives the roster its strongest local angle. The New Orleans native and St. Augustine graduate was selected by the Pelicans with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after averaging 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his lone season at SMU.
Pierre also shot 37% from 3-point range at SMU, giving the Pelicans a developmental guard with scoring ability and local ties. A strong Summer League showing could help him make an early case for a two-way contract or a role with the Laketown Squadron, the Pelicans’ G League affiliate beginning a new era in Kenner.
Bufkin is another player to watch. The former Michigan guard was drafted No. 15 overall by Atlanta in 2023, but injuries slowed his first years in the league. He later spent time in the G League, where he showed he could still score and create offense.
FILE – Atlanta Hawks guard Kobe Bufkin (4) drives during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley, File)(Matt Kelley | AP)
For Bufkin, Summer League could become a restart. He will need to show he can stay healthy, defend and shoot well enough to earn another NBA opportunity.
The Pelicans will play Charlotte on Saturday, Phoenix on Sunday and Cleveland on July 15. Their fifth game will be determined after the first four results.
All Pelicans Summer League games are scheduled to air locally on GCSEN.
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