With the training camp right around the corner, the New Orleans Pelicans have made what will likely be their final move before training camp. New Orleans, prior to this signing, had 20 players under contract, which meant they had one more spot open heading into camp. With this final spot, the Pelicans decided to sign former Oklahoma Sooner forward and projected 2025 2nd round pick Jalon Moore.
His averages of 15.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 47.1% from the field made him a key piece alongside Jeremiah Fears in the Sooners' run to the NCAA tournament. The addition of Moore on a camp deal may just be a happy accident, or it could be a way of giving Fears a familiar face to help ease him into the NBA.
Moore spent four years in college, split between two different programs. From 2021-23 he attended Georgia Tech, and from 2023-25 he was at Oklahoma. Throughout his collegiate career, two things stood out: his great size as a wing at 6’6.25 with a near 6’11” wingspan and his work ethic. Coming into his freshman year in college, Moore wasn’t a floor spacer at all and rarely attempted shots from beyond the arc, but he kept working on his shot and finished his senior year as a 38% three-point shooter.
His growth as a shooter makes him exactly the type of wing every team is looking for in the modern NBA. Someone with good size, great athleticism, who can be a threat from beyond the arc, whether that be off the catch or off the dribble.
The reason Moore remained unsigned following the 2025 NBA draft was that he suffered a tragic injury leading up to the draft. Moore tore his Achilles tendon during a pre-draft workout for the San Antonio Spurs, which was enough to tank any hype he had entering the NBA draft completely.
Dumars is playing chess, not checkers.
With Moore expected to likely miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season with this injury, fans may wonder why Dumars would even bring him in to training camp, but the reasoning is brilliant.
The NBA has a rule that allows teams to waive certain players and designate them as affiliate players, thereby gaining their G League rights. This appears to be the Pelicans' plan for Jalon Moore.
The Pelicans can let Moore rehab and develop in the G League this season and potentially bring him up to the main roster the following year. With Moore having the tools teams look for from modern NBA wings, having his long-term rights could benefit New Orleans if he develops into a real rotation player.
I'm a massive fan of this move by the front office. Moore could be a real impact player coming off the bench for this team, as long as they invest time into developing him. I also love what bringing in a friend and former teammate of Jeremiah Fears can do for this squad's chemistry.