It’s no secret that the New Orleans Pelicans have been underwhelming this season. After making an offseason trade for Dejounte Murray, they seemed bound for a potential deep playoff run. However, due to a mix of injuries, poor coaching, and poor play, the Pelicans find themselves as a bottom feeder in the Western Conference.
Because they’ve been so injured, the Pelicans have had to turn to some fresh faces to help bring them to the finish line. These final weeks of the regular season might not mean much to the average NBA fan or to a bottom-dweller team like New Orleans, but they can be an absolutely vital time for others.
The Pels might be competing for lottery odds instead of wins right now, but that doesn't mean the players they're putting on the court aren't still trying their hardest. Every game is a chance for these guys to prove themselves in the NBA, and the Pelicans should be interested in bringing a few guys back for the 2025-26 season with the way they've performed.
These players proved they belong in the NBA for the Pelicans
1. Elfrid Payton
Earlier in the season, the Pelicans had to look for some help at the point guard position. They turned to a familiar face in Elfrid Payton, and he came through, logging an eye-popping 21 assists in a game against the Indiana Pacers and looking like a decent NBA player despite being out of the league for three years before the stint.
Surprisingly, though, New Orleans didn’t bring him back after his 10-day contract expired, and Payton returned to the G-League. A few weeks later, Payton joined the Charlotte Hornets on another 10-day deal, but he didn’t stick there either and once again returned to the G-League. Finally, the Pelicans made the decision to bring him back, and he has shined again, averaging over seven assists in just 20 minutes a night through 14 total games for New Orleans. The hometown hero probably wouldn’t get much playing time next season when Dejounte Murray returns and Jose Alvarado is back to coming off the bench, but it would be smart to bring him back on a veteran minimum contract in case of another injury.
2. Keion Brooks Jr.
After he went undrafted in last year’s draft, the Pelicans signed Keion Brooks Jr. to their G -League team, the Birmingham Squadron. He played well, averaging 16 points, 6.4 rebounds, and over a steal and a block per game. After getting the call up to the NBA, he’s made the most of his time there so far, averaging eight points on 50 percent shooting, nearly four rebounds, and 1.3 steals in just 20 minutes of action.
Brooks Jr. is the definition of a hustle player. He might be the closest thing to Naji Marshall the Pelicans are going to see. Letting him go would be a big mistake due to his potential, as he is much more skilled than most other players on two-way contracts. The best thing to do would be to keep him around and give him as much run as possible in Summer League this offseason to have him feel more comfortable within the organization and team. Keeping him on a two-way deal for next season and maybe converting him to a real NBA deal later on would be ideal.
3. Lester Quinones
Like Brooks Jr., Lester Quinones is a quality energy player. He constantly makes the right plays and never tries to do too much. He’s a great shooter, shooting over 60 percent from three in his six games with New Orleans.
He’s averaging over four points in less than nine minutes with the Pelicans and was very good for the Squadron this season as well. He’s got the potential to be a legitimate sniper off the bench, and it would make all the sense in the world to keep him on a two-way for next year and give him a lot of run this summer. The best thing about Quinones is his on-court instincts, which can't be taught but can be nurtured by spending time around some of the greatest talents the game has ever seen, like he's done with Stephen Curry and Tyrese Maxey.
4. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
In his two seasons in New Orleans, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has been a great teammate and has always been ready when his number is called. He's a reliable shooter from the corner, a solid defender, and he plays hard through the whistle.
He doesn’t have as much potential as some of the other players on this list, as he’s been in the league for a while now at 24 years old, but it would be wise to bring him back as a glue guy on the end of the bench. He's on an expiring deal, but it should be very cheap to bring him back on a two or three-year deal. Letting him go could hurt team chemistry, and any possible replacement probably wouldn’t be as skilled as he is, nor would they have the established repertoire with the Pelicans.