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New Orleans

Pelicans

Conference Western
Division Southwest
Arena Smoothie King Center
Founded 2002

Latest Pelicans Stories

Pelicans May Trade Hawkins, Poole and Jones for a Center
New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans May Trade Hawkins, Poole and Jones for a Center

The New Orleans Pelicans have entered a quiet offseason after two consecutive campaigns that fell short of the thirty-win mark. With a roster that still lacks a true starting center, the front office feels pressure to add interior size while preserving flexibility under the salary cap. The lack of aggressive moves has left fans restless, and speculation has centered on three players whose contracts and performance could be leveraged to facilitate a deal for a big man.

Yahoo Sports
Pelicans Look to Move Jordan Hawkins Ahead of Next Season
New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans Look to Move Jordan Hawkins Ahead of Next Season

The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly in trade discussions involving guard Jordan Hawkins, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2023 draft. Hawkins, now 24, has had his player option exercised for the upcoming season, guaranteeing him just over $7 million. The organization appears ready to part ways with him before the contract expires, seeking to free a roster spot and a modest salary that is unlikely to see significant playing time.

Yahoo Sports
Pelicans Target Bitadze to Fill Center Void
New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans Target Bitadze to Fill Center Void

The New Orleans Pelicans finished the campaign with just 26 victories, highlighting the pressing need to strengthen a roster that lacked a true interior anchor. One of the most immediate ways to address the void at center is a trade for Goga Bitadze, the 27-year-old Georgian currently under contract with the Orlando Magic. Bitadze’s size and experience could provide the Pelicans with the post presence they have been missing.

Sports Illustrated
Pelicans Stall as Knicks Snag Cissé, Center Rotation Remains Weak
New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans Stall as Knicks Snag Cissé, Center Rotation Remains Weak

The New Orleans Pelicans have entered the current free-agency period without adding a single player, even after a season that fell well short of playoff expectations. The front office has kept its core of Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Herb Jones intact, but has made no moves to address the glaring interior deficiencies that contributed to back-to-back campaigns with sub-average win totals. This lack of activity raises questions about the strategic direction of the franchise as the league moves toward the new season.

Sports Illustrated
Pelicans' Trio Poised to Cash In on Upcoming Season
New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans' Trio Poised to Cash In on Upcoming Season

The New Orleans Pelicans enter the new campaign with a clear focus on three players who stand to benefit the most from a breakout year. Each of these athletes occupies a central role in the team’s offensive philosophy, and their individual growth will directly influence the franchise’s chances of advancing deep into the playoffs. The coaching staff has consistently emphasized that these three will be the cornerstone of every game plan, shaping the way the team attacks and defends.

Yahoo Sports
Pelicans' Position in Western Conference Power Rankings Examined
New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans' Position in Western Conference Power Rankings Examined

The New Orleans Pelicans remain a fixture in the NBA's Western Conference, a landscape that demands both consistency and flashes of brilliance to climb the power-ranking ladder. While the latest ranking list is not publicly disclosed in the source material, the very question of where the Pelicans sit invites a deeper look at the team’s recent performance trends, roster composition, and strategic outlook.

Yahoo Sports
Knicks Target Pelicans Stretch-Big as Trade Deadline Looms
New Orleans Pelicans

Knicks Target Pelicans Stretch-Big as Trade Deadline Looms

The New York Knicks have entered the final stretch of the offseason with a clear target: a stretch-big from the New Orleans Pelicans. With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Knicks’ front office appears ready to use the remaining window to add a versatile front-court piece. Recent roster moves have left the club with flexibility under the salary cap, positioning it to explore a deal that could reshape the team’s big-man rotation.

Yahoo Sports
Khaman Maluach's Summer League Triple Threat vs. Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans

Khaman Maluach's Summer League Triple Threat vs. Pelicans

Khaman Maluach, the Phoenix Suns' promising young center, delivered a standout performance against the New Orleans Pelicans in recent Summer League action, tallying 15 points, 15 rebounds, and sinking two three-pointers. This double-double effort, which included multiple long-range connections, came in a close 81-75 loss for the Suns. Maluach, at just 19 years old, has consistently impressed in Summer League, building on a prior double-double against the Portland Trail Blazers.

ESPN

Pelicans Salary Cap

Full contracts → Draft history
Total Cap $226.1M
Cap Space -$61.1M
Est. Tax Bill $0
Dead Cap $0
#PlayerPosAgeTypeCap HitGuaranteed
1Zion WilliamsonPF26DRK-EXT$42.2M$42.2M
2Jordan PooleSG27RK-EXT$34.0M$34.0M
3Dejounte MurrayPG30VET-EXT$32.8M$28.8M
4Trey Murphy IIISF26RK-EXT$27.0M$27.0M
5Herb JonesSF28FA$14.9M$14.9M
6Kevon LooneyC30FA$8.0M—
7Jeremiah FearsPG20RK-1ST$7.9M$7.9M
8Jordan HawkinsSG24RK-1ST$7.0M$7.0M
9Saddiq BeySF27FA$6.6M$6.4M
10Derik QueenC22RK-1ST$5.4M$5.4M
11Yves MissiC22RK-1ST$3.5M$3.5M
12Bryce McGowensSG24ROS$2.6M$2.6M
13Karlo MatkovicPF25RK-2ND$2.3M—
14Micah PeavySG25RK-2ND$2.2M$2.2M

Salary data via Spotrac. Updated daily.