New Orleans Pelicans season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

The New Orleans Pelicans enter the 2026-27 NBA season as perhaps the league’s most confounding team. A year after trading a future first-round pick to move up and draft Derik Queen, the Pelicans largely stood pat this offseason after another disappointing record that left them outside the Western Conference postseason picture. The franchise has won just two playoff series since coming to New Orleans in 2002.

There will have to be significant internal improvements for that to change under former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. The Pelicans were relatively healthy last season, with stars Trey Murphy III, Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson each playing at least 62 games. New Orleans is also hoping for a more productive version of guard Dejounte Murray after he played in just 14 games following his return from a torn Achilles.

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Yet Murphy, Bey and Murray have also been mentioned in trade rumors. Pelicans executive VP for basketball operations Joe Dumars has thus far resisted a full-fledged rebuild. How the first portion of this season goes should dictate what direction New Orleans takes around the trade deadline. Then again, many expected the Pelicans to recalibrate after last season went south, and they brought back their core.

Here’s a breakdown of the New Orleans Pelicans’ offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after h is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.

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Publish date : 2026-09-23 09:40:00

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