The New Orleans Pelicans are about to begin a crucial offseason for the franchise. After winning just 26 games last season, Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver must decide whether this team will start a rebuild or contend in the 2026-2027 season. The one thing they cannot afford to do is try to balance rebuilding and contending at the same time.
At the start of this offseason, the Pelicans look like a team stuck between the future and the now.
On one hand, their two first-round draft picks last year looked great on the court. In fact, there has been a lot of talk about building the team around Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. The problem with this is that the Pelicans traded their 2026 first-round draft pick (which ended up being 8th overall) to select Queen with the 13th pick in last year’s draft.
It would be silly to go all-in on a rebuild and not even have a first-round pick. The good news is, the Pelicans have the personnel to acquire a first-round pick in this year’s very strong draft class.
They may ultimately have to give up some future draft picks, but if they are serious about rebuilding, they can get back into the first round.
Trey Murphy and Herb Jones specifically should have a lot of value around the league. Zion Williamson’s trade value probably isn’t very high, but I would bet there are a few teams that would be willing to take a chance on him. You also have Saddiq Bey coming off a career year and making just $6.5 million next season.
Some combination of these players surely would net the Pelicans one or more first-round picks. If they choose to rebuild, they could be in a great position to start adding around Fears and Queen.
The Pelicans have the players to contend for the playoffs in 2026-2027
I know a lot of fans aren’t very optimistic about the Pelicans chances of winning many games with their current roster, but I believe they have the talent to make a run at the playoffs. The biggest question would be whether they can stay healthy.
There have been rumors of the Pelicans having interest in the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown. He is a star player who could immediately turn the Pelicans into a playoff contender. But this also depends on who they are trading in return for Brown.
Dumars seems to be intent on building around Fears and Queen, but I don’t think the Pelicans can afford to prioritize playing time for younger players like Fears and Queen if they want to start winning next season. Fears and Queen played great last year, but they are still young and need time to develop.
If the Pelicans are serious about acquiring a player like Brown, they need to go all in on trying to contend. I think they have the pieces to put around a star player, but how many of those pieces would they have to trade to get Brown?
I am okay with the Pelicans rebuilding, and I am also okay with the Pelicans trying to make the playoffs next season. But I don’t think they should be trying to do both. Either commit to one or the other. Trying to thread a needle by acquiring a star player like Brown and continuing to develop Fears and Queen won’t work. The Pelicans will find themselves winning some more games, but not enough to really make a difference.
Dumars and Weaver already picked the head coach they want to lead this Pelicans team, but now they must decide whether Jamahl Mosley will be leading a rebuild or a contender.
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