The New Orleans Pelicans enter the 2026 offseason with the number one priority being to find the franchise's next head coach—after that, it's all about rounding out the team’s starting five. As of now, it is expected that one of Dejounte Murray or Jeremiah Fears will be the team's lead guard, with Trey Murphy III on the wing and Zion Williamson commanding one half of the frontcourt. This leaves two holes: one at the off-guard spot and the other at the center position.
When looking at this group's biggest weaknesses last season, one of the most notable areas for improvement was three-point shooting. New Orleans finished the season 24th in three-point percentage, 25th in three-point attempts, and 27th in makes.
While adding more floor spacing should be a top priority this summer, the Pelicans may already have their starting two-guard hiding in plain sight on their current roster. Bryce McGowens came out of nowhere last season as someone on a two-way deal for New Orleans and instantly proved he could be a long-term piece. McGowens' play impressed Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver enough that, after 32 appearances, he earned himself a standard contract that has him set to be a Pelican for the foreseeable future.
McGowens is the perfect complementary piece
In 42 games last season for the Pelicans, McGowens averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three. His season was cut short by a fractured small toe, but he should be ready to go for the start of camp.
His ability to shoot the three-ball is his calling card and the most compelling reason for the 23-year-old to be a starter in New Orleans next season. He was in the 93rd percentile in above-the-break three-point percentage and 87th percentile in overall three-point percentage according to Cleaning the Glass.
Other than the outside shot, where McGowens also brings a ton of value, is with his basketball IQ and understanding of his role. With high-profile offensive talents like Zion, Murray, and Murphy III, the team needs someone who won't get in the way and is extremely smart with their shot selection. So while he was an effective shooter this past season, he didn't force looks from the outside and always opted for high-percentage shots. McGowens ended up finishing in the 87th percentile in shots at the rim frequency among other wings, according to Cleaning the Glass.
Outside of his understanding of how to get in where he fits in, McGowens also brings positional size to the guard spot at 6-foot-6 and can be an option as a secondary ball handler for the Pelicans.
Instead of searching for an answer, the Pelicans need to look at what’s already in front of them. With the star power New Orleans has, they don’t need some flash addition—they need a proven floor spacer and someone who can impact the game without disrupting the offense. That’s exactly who Bryce McGowens is.
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