The New Orleans Pelicans entered the 2026 offseason with few needs greater than three-point shooting.
While they failed to address that flaw by running back a carbon copy of last year's roster, they did add some shooting to their training camp in Caleb Houstan. HoopsHype's Mike Scotto reported that New Orleans signed Houstan on Monday to their final training camp roster spot as he’ll now compete with Christian Koloko and Kobe Bufkin. Now, I’m not going to write that this is a groundbreaking, core-shaking move that changes the Pelicans' offseason outlook, but I am a massive fan of Houstan’s fit with this team, and that's not new.
The New Orleans Pelicans and Caleb Houstan have agreed to a one-year deal, league sources told @hoopshype. He’ll compete for the final Pelicans roster spot after shooting 52.4% from 3-point range with the Hawks last season. He reunites with former Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. pic.twitter.com/GK0P3vMOUH
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 3, 2026
Going back to last offseason, when Houstan signed with the Atlanta Hawks, I wrote that he was a perfect, cheap floor-spacing wing option for a team in dire need of shooting. And now, an offseason later, he’s a Pelican.
Houstan is my pick to win the training camp battle
From a general what can they provide to this team standpoint, Houstan checks way more boxes than both Koloko and Bufkin.
When looking at this roster, wing depth isn’t a high priority with Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Saddiq Bey all slotted to play this season. However, the priority should be three-point shooting, and Houstan does that at an unbelievable level, with a career three-point percentage of 37.8 over four years. Koloko is similar to Yves Missi as a rim-running, shot-blocking, lob threat, and Bufkin is an on-ball guard whose three-point shooting remains shaky, so yes, Houstan is by far the best fit.
While these numbers are inflated because he only appeared in 18 games last season, Houstan did shoot 52.4 percent from three on 1.2 attempts per game. Although that percentage is inflated due to a small usage and lack of playing time, it still matters and shows how knockdown Houstan can be.
The other thing Houstan has going for him is his size, as he isn’t one of those smaller 6-foot-5 wings, measuring 6-foot-8 and capable of playing the two, three, and four. Having another wing that can shuffle up and down the lineup would be nice for the Pelicans, and could see Houstan be a guy that gets called on earlier than expected if he makes the roster. Another reason he could be someone that becomes part of this rotation is the comfort level he has with new head coach Jamahl Mosley.
When Houstan was drafted 32nd overall in 2022 by the Magic, Mosley was the head coach of Orlando and tried to integrate him into the rotation very early on. That pre-established relationship could give that extra advantage over the other camp invites.
Overall, I really like this move. Houstan is a former five-star recruit and could become a diamond in the rough for this Pelicans team in the same way Bryce McGowens was in 2025-26.
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