Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
The New Orleans Pelicans finalized their regular-season roster Monday, and it features six primary players that weren’t with the team last season. The projected starting lineup features three players — Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Herbert Jones — who missed a combined 143 games last season. So the team that opens the season Wednesday at Memphis will look very different than the one that literally and figuratively limped to the end of last season with a 21-61 record. Three players on this year’s team — incumbent point guard Dejounte Murray, trade acquisition Kevon Looney and Derik Queen, the second of the team’s two lottery draft picks — are sidelined with injuries as the season gets underway. The combination of mainstays, familiar faces returning to health and veteran and rookie newcomers give fourth-year coach Willie Green a roster capable of greatly exceeding last year’s record — the second-worst in franchise history. This year's team has the potential to approach the 49-33 record of two years ago — tied for the second-best in franchise history. Whether the team can avoid the inordinate number of long-term injuries to key players that have plagued it in recent seasons and how quickly and how well Green and his staff can mesh the collection of parts will go a long way in determining the Pelicans’ success over the next six months. “I love the connectivity of this group,” Green said after practice Monday. “One of the most important components is being able to communicate on both ends of the court. This group has put in the work, and I think the new faces have assimilated to where we can get off to a good start.” New executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said he put together a roster capable of overcoming significant injuries. And that brings us to a closer look at the players on the Pelicans’ opening-day roster: F Zion Williamson The two-time All-Star is the team’s most important player. When he’s playing, they’re good. When he’s not, they’re bad. Two years ago, he played in 70 games, and the Pelicans went to the playoffs. Last year, he played in 30 games, and they had the second-worst record in the West. There’s more to those numbers than just Williamson’s availability, but it’s the biggest factor in this team’s prospects. G/F Herbert Jones A case can be made that Jones, a first-team all-NBA defender in his last full season two years ago, is as important to the Pelicans defense as Williamson is to the offense. His ability to contain the opponent’s best perimeter offensive player makes him a spiritual leader on the team, and offensively he has evolved into a double-figure on average each of the past two seasons. C Yves Missi As a 20-year-old rookie a year ago, Missi was pressed into a prominent role and led the team in games played (73) as well as starts (67). The acquisition of Looney and the drafting of Queen should lessen the burden on Missi, but it won’t initially because Missi, on whom the organization exercised a third-year contract option last week, is the only fully healthy big man to start the season. G/F Trey Murphy Murphy’s ever-expanding game made it easier for the previous regime to trade Brandon Ingram during last season rather than give him a maximum contract. Murphy’s rare 3-point range has always made him a valuable offensive asset, but his enhanced ability to drive to the basket, set up teammates, rebound and defend make him one of the team’s most important players. G Jordan Poole The Pelicans traded for Poole to boost the offense at both guard positions. Murray’s absence might require him to play more point guard early on, but he will be an important leader from both positions over the course of the season. G/F Saddiq Bey His career has been consistent with recent Pelicans history — showing a lot of promise before being derailed by injury. Ironically, his injury — a torn ACL — was suffered in a game with the Hawks against New Orleans on March 10, 2024, and his first game since then will come Wednesday night. His perimeter shooting and ability to defend multiple positions should make him a key player off the bench. G Jose Alvarado The energy and enthusiasm that Alvarado brings off the bench on a nightly basis have made him a valuable contributor during the past four seasons. He’ll continue to be counted on to provide a lift. G Jeremiah Fears The Pelicans used the No. 7 overall pick in the draft to grab the teenager from the University of Oklahoma. His ability to create for himself and others gives him an opportunity to carve out an important role right away, but the Pelicans have enough veterans in the backcourt to bring him along slowly if necessary. His performance will be important to monitor as the season gets started. F/C Karlo Matkovic He had a slow adjustment to the NBA as a rookie last season, playing in just six of the Pelicans’ first 42 games. But he played 36 of the last 40 games, scoring in double figures 15 times, including the last eight games, and grabbing double-figure rebounds six times. Though the Pelicans have improved their depth at center, Matkovic, who missed practice Monday because of an elbow injury, enters the season as Missi’s primary backup while Mooney and Queen heal. G Jordan Hawkins Hawkins took on a bigger role as a second-year player last season and increased all of his per-game averages. His 3-point shooting should continue to earn him minutes, but just how many is uncertain if a deep backcourt stays mostly healthy. Nonetheless, the organization likes him enough to have exercised a fourth-year option on him last week. G/F Micah Peavy The 40th pick in the draft naturally got overshadowed by the two lottery picks. Peavy has a chance to find a niche, though it might come later rather than sooner. F/C Derik Queen The second lottery pick seems likely to be the first injured player to return. He had wrist surgery in the summer but was cleared last week to resume full basketball activities. Once he returns, his role will evolve as he gets acclimated to the NBA. F/C Kevon Looney He is the oldest player on the team though he won’t turn 30 until February. Last season with the Warriors, Looney had his fewest starts and fewest minutes in five seasons, but the three-time NBA champion will have a significant influence on younger players and will provide an important inside presence when he returns. His sprained knee is scheduled to be re-evaluated in two weeks. G Dejounte Murray Murray’s leadership, defense and playmaking make him one of the team’s most important players. The timing of his return from Achilles surgery is uncertain, but a return to form by mid-season would give the team a huge boost for the stretch run. G Jaden Springer In four NBA seasons, he has played in 110 games (six starts) with the 76ers, Celtics and Jazz.
