New Orleans Pelicans' 2026 Season Outlook
Newsweek · C · trust 31/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Is the New Orleans Pelicans franchise ready for October yet? Well, they have some time to still get prepped for the new season, but it's worth noting that this team mostly stood still. during the offseason.
After a disappointing 26-win season, there was an expectation that New Orleans would make significant changes and start shaping the next version of the roster. That hasn't happened yet, leaving new head coach Jamahl Mosley with a difficult task: trying to find a clear direction with a group that still has plenty of uncertainty.
Also, the Pelicans have young players who need room to grow. Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, both lottery picks in 2025, are heading into their second seasons hoping to take another step. But with a roster that still includes several veterans competing for minutes, figuring out the right balance won't be easy. Development only happens when young players have real chances.
Really, the only notable departure so far has been Kevon Looney, who left in free agency after one injury-filled season in New Orleans. Losing Looney won't define the offseason, but the bigger concern is that the Pelicans haven't done much to address the larger issues that held them back last season.
For a team trying to build its next chapter, every offseason is important.
But, Mosley's arrival adds another layer of intrigue. He has experience developing young talent, but he now has to make sense of a roster that doesn't always appear to fit together. Finding roles for everyone while creating a consistent identity will be one of his biggest challenges.
The biggest questions still surround the future of the franchise's top names. What happens with Zion Williamson? Does Trey Murphy III remain part of the long-term plan? Those decisions could determine where New Orleans goes from here.
Right now, the biggest issue isn't just what New Orleans added. It's what it didn't do.
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