RADIO
Jordan Poole Could See Reduced Role
The New Orleans Pelicans recently signed free-agent guard Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year deal. The 24-year-old gets $16 million over two years and a player option in his new deal. The presence of Mathurin is going to significantly impact the rest of the Pelicans' rotation. The team will need to find minutes for Dejounte Murray, Jeremiah Fears, and Jordan Poole to all get playing time with Mathurin in the mix as well. Out of the bunch, Poole is likely going to lose the most playing time with Mathurin joining the team. Poole is coming off a disappointing season where he averaged 13.4 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.0 rebounds across 39 games with the Pelicans this past season. He's probably the most inconsistent player of the bunch, so it wouldn't be shocking to see his minutes take a hit this upcoming season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bennedict Mathurin Lands in New Orleans
Guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans that includes a player option, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Mathurin's representatives approached the Los Angeles Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8 million qualifying offer, giving the 24-year-old more flexibility and a quicker path to unrestricted free agency. He averaged a career-best 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 54 games between Indiana and Los Angeles last season, but his 31.5 percent mark from three remains a concern. New Orleans gives him another scoring lane, though Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, and Jeremiah Fears all need touches. Mathurin's free-throw volume keeps him interesting, but the jumper has to improve for his fantasy ceiling to climb.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Pelicans Aggressively Pursuing Bennedict Mathurin
The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly a major player in the sweepstakes for Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin. According to Jake Fischer, Mathurin is expected to be sign-and-traded to the Pelicans or accept the qualifying offer with the Los Angeles Clippers. Fischer made the point that the Pelicans have been aggressively pursuing Mathurin over the offseason. He currently has a one-year, $8.8 million qualifying offer on the table from the Clippers. Mathurin is a restricted free agent, so the Clippers can match any offer sheet that Mathurin gets from other teams. A return to the Clippers seems to make the most sense, but it sounds like the Pelicans are still looking to acquire him.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Dejounte Murray Declares Himself Healthy
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray says he is healthy and ready to show a better version of himself in 2026-27, he told HoopsHype's Cyro Asseo. Murray said his Achilles rehab was mentally harder than his earlier ACL recovery, but his 14-game return last season was not just a late-year cameo. The 29-year-old averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.6 steals in 27.8 minutes over that stretch after tearing his right Achilles on Jan. 31, 2025. A full runway puts Murray back in New Orleans' starting backcourt under Jamahl Mosley, which should trim Jeremiah Fears' on-ball ceiling while giving Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Derik Queen a steadier table-setter.
Source: Cyro Asseo
Source: Cyro Asseo
Herbert Jones Eyes Shooting Bounce-Back
New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones enters 2026-27 as the team's biggest X factor, according to ESPN's season preview. The 2023-24 All-Defensive First Team selection has slipped offensively since that breakout, including 38.3 percent shooting from the field and 30.9 percent from three last season. He still averaged 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals in 28.4 minutes, keeping him useful when defensive stats matter. ESPN noted that a bounce-back year could make Jones a trade-deadline chip for draft compensation. That outcome would be worth tracking, as a move could open extra wing minutes for Saddiq Bey while pushing more creation toward Trey Murphy III.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Hyunjung Lee Works Out for Pelicans
South Korean guard/forward Hyunjung Lee is getting a minicamp look from the New Orleans Pelicans, according to Dylan Sanders of Sports Illustrated, who cited South Korean journalist Sung Jin-hyuk. The Boston Celtics are also expected to bring Lee in during August as he tries to land a camp deal or two-way spot. The 6-foot-7 shooter went undrafted out of Davidson in 2022 before building his career overseas, including an NBL title run with the Illawarra Hawks and a move to Nagasaki Velca in Japan. Lee most recently averaged 9.2 points and 3.6 rebounds across five Summer League games with San Antonio on 35.5/33.3/81.8 shooting splits. He remains off the fantasy radar unless he turns a camp invite into a real NBA role.
Source: Dylan Sanders
Source: Dylan Sanders
Trey Murphy III Could Draw Midseason Trade Chase
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III could become a midseason trade target if the team starts slowly, with Evan Sidery reporting that the Pistons and Pacers may circle back after New Orleans held firm on a high asking price. For fantasy, this is more background noise than a reason to fade him. Murphy broke out last season, averaging 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.2 threes, and 1.5 steals while locking in strong nine-category value. A move next to Cade Cunningham in Detroit or Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana could trim some usage, but Murphy's shooting, steals, and clean stat profile should travel. He remains a strong draft target unless the trade chatter turns concrete.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Caleb Houstan Headed to the Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans have signed free-agent guard Caleb Houstan to a one-year contract on Monday. According to Michael Scotto, the two sides have agreed on a one-year deal, but the salary is unknown at the moment. The expectation is that Houstan will compete for one of the final roster spots during camp. He made a minimal impact during his 18 appearances with the Atlanta Hawks this past season. Before that, Houstan played three seasons with the Orlando Magic under new Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley. He'll reunite with his former coach and hopefully be able to snag one of the final roster spots. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Houstan to be relevant this upcoming season.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Kobe Bufkin Lands One-Year Camp Deal With Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a one-year deal with guard Kobe Bufkin, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The No. 15 pick in 2023, Bufkin has played 43 NBA games across three seasons with the Hawks and Lakers, but he revived his stock last season, averaging 24.8 points on 41.9 percent from three for the G League's South Bay Lakers before dropping 21.3 per game in Summer League. This is a training camp deal, and he will battle for an open roster spot behind Dejounte Murray and Jeremiah Fears. Bufkin is a deep-dynasty flier, but he must make the team and earn minutes before he holds any redraft value.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Jaron Pierre Jr. Comes Home on a Pelicans Two-Way Deal
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jaron Pierre Jr. has agreed to a two-way deal with his hometown team, per Marc Stein, the No. 58 pick becoming the first New Orleans native the franchise has ever drafted. Pierre is a proven college scorer: he averaged 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 37.0 percent shooting from three in his lone SMU season, a year after winning Conference USA Player of the Year with 21.6 points a game at Jacksonville State. The feel-good story aside, a crowded New Orleans backcourt and a two-way tag point him toward the G League's new Laketown Squadron. His lack of an immediate path to NBA minutes keeps him entirely off the fantasy radar for now.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Pelicans Draft Hometown Scorer Jaron Pierre Jr.
The New Orleans Pelicans selected SMU guard/forward Jaron Pierre Jr. with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The New Orleans native gives the Pelicans an experienced scoring option after averaging 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals in 33.0 minutes while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 37.0 percent from deep, and 75.8 percent at the line. Pierre previously averaged 21.6 points at Jacksonville State, so the scoring track record is real. His fantasy value will be limited early, but three-level scoring and wing size give him a path to compete for bench minutes.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Warriors Continue to Eye Trey Murphy III
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III could be more obtainable during this transaction cycle, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater. The Warriors have reportedly viewed Murphy as a long-term wing target, with his age, size, and fit in Golden State's system all part of the appeal. The 25-year-old took another step forward in 2025-26, averaging 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 47.0 percent from the field. A trade to Golden State could trim his shot volume, but his three-point shooting, defensive tools, and ability to play off stars would still give him a clear path to fantasy value in a more competitive environment.
Source: Anthony Slater
Source: Anthony Slater
