Pelicans NBA Cup schedule release immediately puts Joe Dumars' gamble under the microscope

Unlike the big market teams, it took until Wednesday of schedule release week in the NBA for New Orleans Pelicans fans to have something to sink their teeth into. But here we finally are. It has been known for some time that for the 2026-27 season the Pelicans will be in Group B for the NBA Cup tournament. This group features the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, and Minnesota Timberwolves. New Orleans is set to open Cup play at home against the Timberwolves on November 6.

They then follow up with a matchup at home against the Grizzlies on November 13, then travel to OKC to play the Thunder on November 20, and wrap things up on the road against the Clippers on November 27.

Similar to last season where the Pelicans went 0-4 this year’s group is a perfect balance for this team and will really give fans a preview into what this teams ceiling will be in 2026-27.

This group is the perfect measuring stick for the Pelicans

In 2025-26 the Pelicans played the Lakers, Clippers, Mavericks and Grizzlies all of which they lost. Three of these four teams didn’t make the playoffs, and New Orleans losing to them during the early parts of last season set the stage for what was a disastrous 26-win season. This year’s group presents the same mix of potential contenders with the Thunder, a playoff team in the Timberwolves and two middle-of-the-pack teams in the Clippers and Grizzlies.

But unlike last season, if the Pelicans really want to plant their flag and establish themselves as a serious playoff contender an 0-4 result in NBA Cup group stage can’t happen.

I’m not saying this group needs to go 4-0 and dominate a team with the track record that OKC has built over the last several years but a 2-2 finish is the minimum. You can say whatever you want about the Clippers or the Grizzlies and even make an argument that on paper they may have a more well rounded versatile roster than the Pelicans. The difference is both of those teams have undergone complete remodels and don’t have the continuity, experience and chemistry this New Orleans roster should have. 

Obviously, Joe Dumars did make a drastic change by bringing in Jamahl Mosley as the franchises next head coach. But outside of that 14 of the 15 players from last seasons roster are set to return, which is something no other team in the league can really say. 

So like I said at minimum this team needs to beat both the Grizzlies and the Clippers to show fans and the league, they’re a serious team. Best case scenario they catch Minnesota in a situation where they are still working through the kinks of integrating LaMelo Ball in, even if that isn’t the case that game should still be close. If Mosley is serious about this team being elite defensively there are few tougher tests on the perimeter than Anthony Edwards and Ball.

The game against the Thunder is a write-off, but even a competitive performance from the Pelicans would be encouraging.

Dumars has put all his eggs in the Zion Williamson-led core’s contention basket, and early next season, Pelicans fans will get a preview of whether that was the right decision or not.

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