The New Orleans Pelicans won only 26 games last season, but the front office has largely stood pat this summer. Maybe that’s a good thing.
Executive vice president Joe Dumars
told the Times-Picayune that there was “no big deal that I felt was going to make us better” for the upcoming season. Given the perplexing moves Dumars made during his first season in New Orleans, “big deal” simply might not be his forte.
New Orleans Pelicans are in a holding pattern of mediocrity
There’s reason to believe the Pelicans should be better this season. They have a new coach in Jamahl Mosley, who helped turn around the losing Orlando Magic. All-Rookie second-teamers Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen have solid first seasons to build on. Dejounte Murray should be available for a full season after coming back from an Achilles tear in Jan. 2025.
But even with better health, this is no better than an average NBA team, lacking size, outside shooting and shot-blocking. After the season, Dumars claimed he wanted to add more toughness, but the team’s only offseason moves were bringing back 37-year-old DeAndre Jordan on a poorly thought-out two-year deal and drafting Jaron Pierre Jr. with the No. 58 pick.
Still, inactivity is better than what Dumars and the Pelicans did last summer, when they traded CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk and their expiring contracts to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey. Dumars also sent the Pelicans’ first-round pick in 2026 plus the No. 23 pick in 2025 (Asa Newell) for the No. 13 pick that became Queen, a risky gambit that looked better after the pick landed at No. 8.
Joe Dumars might not be the man to lead the New Orleans Pelicans’ future
The Pelicans are stuck in a tough situation. Their best players are all in what should be their prime. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy are 26. Herb Jones turns 28 just before the season starts. Meanwhile, Fears is 19 and Queen is 21.
A creative general manager should be able to note the NBA’s interest in Murphy, a 6-foot-8, three-and-D wing, and make a deal that aligns the Pelicans’ future with Fears and Queen. Since the Pelicans have neither extra draft picks nor payroll flexibility, trading Murphy, or Jones, or even Williamson, could let them truly rebuild instead of chasing a play-in spot.
Dumars probably isn’t that guy. Until the Pelicans have a better decision-maker in place, they might as well stand pat. After all, if they don’t make a move, Dumars can’t make another mistake.