The New Orleans Pelicans enter the 2026 offseason with a clear plan, and while it may not be one all fans agree with, that doesn't mean it can't be a success. During his end-of-season press conference, President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars spoke about his commitment to Zion Williamson and said he doesn't feel this team is far from competing. Obviously, given that the Pelicans finished the season 26-56, some form of change is needed, but it appears the majority of the team's core will stay intact.
Although many fans and media members (myself included) felt this was the offseason to enter a rebuild, giving this group another chance could work—but only if one major issue is addressed. During this same press conference, Dumars was asked what the team needed to improve and highlighted toughness, and while I agree there's one much bigger flaw needing to be addressed.
Sure, at times New Orleans is undersized, and yes, often times they're dominated on the glass, but there is an equalizer to those problems: the three-point line. Unfortunately, when looking at this current roster, the team has just two reliable knockdown shooters, and that was evident this season.
If the Pelicans front office is serious about reinvesting in this core for another year, they must bring in some perimeter shot creators and floor spacers this summer.
Pelicans’ biggest flaw is impossible to ignore
This past season, the Pelicans ranked seventh-worst in three-point percentage, attempted the sixth-fewest threes, and made the fourth-fewest threes per game. One thing is certain: New Orleans can get to the basket and score effectively, but to really weaponize someone like Zion as a downhill driver, he needs shooters to kick out to. Right now, the Pelicans' offense is too one-dimensional for the modern NBA, and if they don't address that, the front office would've been better off entering a rebuild.
The 2023-24 season saw the Pelicans win 49 games, and a big part of that was the shooters they surrounded Zion with. That season, Herb Jones, CJ McCollum, Jose Alvarado, and Trey Murphy III were all knock-down, and then you sprinkle in Naji Marshall, Jordan Hawkins, and Larry Nance, Brandon Ingram, who were all positive floor spacers that year, too.
The recipe is right there for Dumars and Troy Weaver—they just need to recreate it.
One of the bigger misconceptions, too, is that the team needs a floor spacing center next to Zion, which simply isn't true. Sure, that would be a major luxury, but it's not a necessity. The focus should instead be on bringing in shooters, regardless of position.
If Dumars and company are certain that running back this core is in the best interest of the Pelicans and their fans, so be it. However, he and his staff need to realize what comes with that decision and address the team's shooting problems.
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