The 2025-26 season didn't go as planned for the New Orleans Pelicans, as they finished 11th in the West with a 26-56 record. While it was another down year for the Pels, it did provide a clear blueprint for where the team needs to improve to become a playoff contender in 2026-27. New Orleans' two biggest areas for improvement are their lack of true center play and size, along with addressing their need for more floor spacing.
Thankfully for the Pelicans, the ability to kill two birds with one stone is emerging, with the Golden State Warriors facing a ton of uncertainty, Kristaps Porzingis may be looking for a new home.
Heading into the offseason, it's unclear which direction Golden State is headed and whether they'll retain Steve Kerr for a 13th season as head coach. While Porzingis was the big piece the Warriors got back for Jonathan Kuminga, he is set to be an unrestricted free agent, and it's unknown what type of interest either side has in running things back.
Although New Orleans doesn't have the cap space to outright sign Porzingis as a free agent if he is destined to leave, the Pelicans have the contracts to facilitate a sign-and-trade with the Warriors.
A risk worth taking
Given the Pelicans' track record of injuries over the last several seasons, adding another player to this roster with a troubled injury history may scare some.
Porzingis played just 32 games last season between Atlanta and Golden State, and only 42 the year prior with Boston. The difference is that the struggles he's had with staying on the court over the past two seasons have typically been due to injuries, whereas his absences have been illness-related. He has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which has affected his conditioning immensely.
The concerns about KP's health are real, and signing him would be a massive risk. But if it works out, New Orleans ceiling could skyrocket.
With Zion Williamson expected to slot in at the Pelicans power forward spot next season, having a rim protector and floor spacer next to him would change everything. Zion's two biggest weaknesses are his inability to space the floor and his poor defense. Bringing in Porzingis could address both problems. Outside of Victor Wembanyama, there may be no bigger game wrecker at the five than Porzingis. With a career block average of 1.8 per game and a career 36.4 percent three-point shooter, adding him to the frontcourt would unlock a new dimension to the Pelicans' offense.
If the Pelicans want to be a real playoff threat in the 2026-27 season, it starts and ends with upgrading the center spot. For too long, New Orleans has been weak in the middle, and while targeting Porzingis comes with significant risk, there aren't any options on the market that fit the Pelicans' needs better. With Golden State having one of the most unclear offseason paths in the league, there is no better time to pry away the Unicorn and bring him to the Big Easy.
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