The New Orleans Pelicans have picked up back-to-back summer league wins, beating the Charlotte Hornets 95-91 on Saturday and the Phoenix Suns 81-75 on Sunday. These two wins are incredibly encouraging, as both Charlotte and Phoenix have deep rosters full of first-round draft picks and real NBA-level players.
The Pelicans being 2-1 in summer league comes on the heels of some impressive performances by players fighting to earn a roster spot with New Orleans. At this moment, the Pelicans have two two-way spots open and one standard NBA roster spot open. New Orleans has already given a two-way spot to Hunter Dickinson (brutal) and will likely offer one of their remaining two spots to No. 58 pick Jaron Pierre Jr. This leaves one two-way spot for the other 12 players on the Pelicans' Las Vegas roster without a contract.
Through three games, there are three players on this year's roster that I feel have a real shot at earning a spot with New Orleans heading into the 2026-27 season.
Kobe Bufkin has the talent, but does he fit?​
Leading off is an obvious one: Kobe Bufkin. From the moment the Pelicans tipped off summer league Thursday against Minnesota, it was clear Bufkin was on a mission, dropping 30 points in the opener, 21 of which came in the first half. Bufkin has always been an impressive shot maker and someone who thrives with the ball in his hands as a creator. Through three summer league games, that’s the exact role he’s played, averaging 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. Bufkin has done a great job breaking down one-on-one matchups, creating advantages, and getting downhill.
He’s also done a strong job defensively and on the glass. At 6-foot-4, Bufkin has a size advantage over most other guards, giving the Pelicans another player who can help close out possessions on the defensive boards. Defensively, Bufkin is far from elite, but his length is a massive plus, helping him average 2.0 steals per game.​
Everything sounds pretty good, and Bufkin, from a pure talent standpoint, would be a lock for that final two-way spot. But New Orleans can’t approach this need strictly from a talent standpoint, as they have certain skills and positional needs that Bufkin simply doesn’t meet.​
The biggest question he faced entering summer league was that his perimeter scoring wasn’t good enough for a modern-day NBA guard. After one game, he had his doubters silenced, shooting 5-of-9 from three, but since then, he’s come back to reality. Bufkin has shot 2-of-13 from three since the opener and watched his overall three-point percentage fall to 31.8 percent. Considering New Orleans also has three guards, they’ll need to play real minutes in Jordan Poole, Jeremiah Fears, and Dejounte Murray, the need for Bufkin is almost zero.
It’d be one thing if he were an undeniable three-point shooter, as the Pelicans desperately need more spacing. However, his play in the summer league suggested that part of his game still hasn't really come around.
Could I see a world where he still gets offered a deal by the front office 100 percent? Yes. Would I do that? No.
Malik Dia fills a need, but comes with major flaws
Next up is Malik Dia, who has been an impressive scoring frontcourt piece for the Pelicans through three games. Dia is averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting a 42.9 percent clip from beyond the arc. He would immediately catch your eye because, as I mentioned with Bufkin, New Orleans needs floor spacers, and at his size, that skill is in high demand. Dia is also a very strong rebounder who has rarely been beaten on a box-out, and with New Orleans' frontcourt thin, he could have a spot.
My issue with Dia is that he doesn’t seem overly willing to buy into a role, and he's looked like a black hole on offense at times. No one has to remind Dia to get his shots up. Not sure if Shammgod gave him the ultimate green light or what, but Dia is not afraid to get his shots up. Over the first two games, Dia got up 13 shots in 24 total minutes. And while the shots are falling like they did when he dropped 18 points and eight rebounds against Phoenix, when they're not, it’s a tough watch.
​I understand that he isn’t expected to be a playmaker or creator, but Dia having one assist through three games is a massive red flag to me. For role players, being a solid connective passer and understanding when to make that extra pass are such valuable traits. And Dia hasn’t shown either of those things.
Dia has been mostly non-existent defensively. While he’s a solid defensive playmaker and has the skills needed to be a good defender, his effort on that end hasn’t been consistent. Dia gets caught ball-watching a fair amount, and with his slower foot speed, recovering can be tough.
Although Dia could fill a positional need as a frontcourt piece that can also space the floor, the negatives with him outweigh the positives. Do I think Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver see things the same? No, as Dia has that skill and size Weaver tends to fall for, so it wouldn’t shock me to see Dia on a two-way going into next season.
Melvin Council Jr. should be the frontrunner
Saving the best for last, Melvin Council Jr. would be my pick for the final two-way spot.
At 6-foot-4, he has strong on-ball and off-ball skills, can play as a lead guard and on the wing, making him someone who can fill a bunch of roles for the Pelicans. In his first two summer league games, Council Jr. has averaged 7.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 33 percent from three. His stats alone sum up why I like Council Jr.’s fit with this team. His ability to do a bit of everything and elite competitiveness every night remind me of Bryce McGowens, who broke out on a two-way deal for New Orleans last season.
Council Jr. sees the game very well, has exceptional passing skills, a high basketball IQ, and knows how to create advantages for his teams, particularly for bigs in the pick-and-roll. New Orleans needs more guys who can create and generate clean looks regardless of their position, and Council Jr. fits that bill.
From a scoring perspective, Council Jr. isn’t the most efficient guy, but he has a very strong feel for the game. He’s a wiry guard who has shown a strong ability to get downhill and score at the rim, score in the mid-range, and create his own shot from the perimeter. Council Jr. operates well off the ball, but there is still room for improvement, particularly as a catch-and-shooter.
What has really caught my eye about Council Jr., and what led me to go back and rewatch his possessions in summer league and in college, is the effort he’s shown on the defensive end with the Pelicans. A lot of guys come into summer league after being the guy or primary creator in college, and it’s hard to adjust to a scaled-down role and buy in defensively. Council Jr. has been the opposite. Despite being the focal point of Kansas' offense for the majority of last season, with Darryn Peterson only playing in 24 games, seeing him buy into the defensive end has been a nice surprise.
He’s been assertive from the point of attack, not hesitating to get in the grill of opposing offensive players, jump the passing lanes, and help the Pelicans string together stops. Having a guy willing to buy in on that end who also has an offensive game he can fall back on is exactly the type of player I’d be looking to invest in if I were Joe Dumars.
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